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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. key — in music
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bound — certain
  5. bound — obliged
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. lie — to recline
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. field — farmland
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. mark — a trace
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. field — for sport
  14. mark — a grade
  15. bulb — for light
  16. stand — to bear
  17. key — the most important part
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bulb — for light
  20. key — for a lock
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. field — a subject

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com