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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 124 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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. ground — the earth
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. wind — moving air
  6. can — a tin
  7. bound — tied together
  8. ground — crushed
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. can — a tin
  11. ground — a position
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. pit — in a race
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pit — a hole
  18. bound — obliged
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. wind — moving air
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. can — to be able to
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bound — certain

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