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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 protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. net — after costs
  5. squash — to crush
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. net — in sport
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — a tin
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. season — in sport
  13. current — of water
  14. net — for catching
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. season — of the year
  17. can — to be able to
  18. current — happening now
  19. lie — to recline
  20. squash — the sport
  21. current — electric
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. calf — a young animal

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