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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. last — finally
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. mug — a cup
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. pit — a hole
  10. field — a subject
  11. last — final
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. field — for sport
  15. fine — high quality
  16. rush — hurry
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. field — farmland
  19. fine — all right
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. pit — in a race
  22. last — to go on
  23. mug — to rob
  24. mug — a face

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