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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. root — the cause
  3. march — the month
  4. root — of a plant
  5. season — of the year
  6. chip — for betting
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bass — low music
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bass — the fish
  11. root — of a word
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. date — the fruit
  17. march — the month
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. march — music
  22. season — in sport
  23. chip — to eat
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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