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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bound — certain
  6. plane — a tool
  7. bound — obliged
  8. club — for golf
  9. scale — in music
  10. club — for dancing
  11. scale — size or range
  12. pit — in a race
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. club — a group
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. pit — a hole
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. leaves — lets stay

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