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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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pop — to visit
  6. pass — a permit
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. trunk — of a tree
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pop — music
  12. dip — to sink
  13. stand — to bear
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. toast — bread
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. pop — soda

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