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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. ball — a great time
  3. ball — a dance
  4. root — the cause
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. root — of a plant
  7. fall — to drop
  8. fall — to drop
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pit — in a race
  11. lie — to recline
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. pitch — completely
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. fall — the season
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. root — of a word
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pit — a hole
  24. cabinet — ministers

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