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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 120 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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. pit — in a race
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bound — certain
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. pit — a hole
  9. perch — the fish
  10. tear — from crying
  11. bound — obliged
  12. season — in sport
  13. mug — a cup
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. pass — a permit
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. mug — a face
  18. tear — to rip
  19. bound — tied together
  20. season — of the year
  21. tear — from crying
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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