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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 giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stock — shares
  3. row — to paddle
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pass — a permit
  6. bound — obliged
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. mug — to rob
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bound — tied together
  11. press — to push
  12. bound — certain
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mug — a face
  19. press — newspapers
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. stock — goods
  23. plane — a tool
  24. row — a line

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