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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. last — finally
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cap — a lid
  6. ball — a great time
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cap — of ice
  10. last — to go on
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. can — a tin
  17. bulb — for light
  18. ball — a dance
  19. can — to be able to
  20. last — final
  21. bulb — for light
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. can — a tin
  24. cap — a hat

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