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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. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. current — electric
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fine — high quality
  12. date — the fruit
  13. vault — a safe
  14. current — happening now
  15. fall — the season
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. fall — to drop
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. fine — all right
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. current — of water
  24. calf — of the leg

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