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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. mate — a friend
  3. bore — to tire
  4. court — of law
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. bore — to drill
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. court — for sport
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. shower — rain
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mate — a partner
  19. court — of a king
  20. lie — to recline
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. shower — to wash
  24. lie — an untruth

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