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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. row — a line
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. rest — what's left
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. wound — an injury
  7. row — to paddle
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rest — what's left
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. branch — a division
  14. pit — a hole
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. wound — an injury
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. rest — a break
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. toast — bread

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