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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bulb — for light
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. game — a match
  13. march — the month
  14. march — the month
  15. rash — a series
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. march — music
  18. bulb — for light
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. game — wild animals
  24. rash — hasty

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