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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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. net — in sport
  4. present — there
  5. ball — a great time
  6. firm — decided
  7. bound — certain
  8. firm — steady
  9. bound — tied together
  10. present — the time now
  11. net — for catching
  12. field — farmland
  13. ball — a dance
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. field — for sport
  16. rock — a stone
  17. bound — obliged
  18. firm — a company
  19. field — a subject
  20. rock — music
  21. present — a gift
  22. net — after costs
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rock — to move gently

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