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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. staff — employees
  3. face — part of the head
  4. staff — employees
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. lie — to recline
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. face — to point toward
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. face — to confront
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. pitch — completely
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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