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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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. game — wild animals
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. branch — a division
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. fork — in a road
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. pass — a permit
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. game — a match
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. nail — on a finger
  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