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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. current — of water
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. lie — to recline
  11. branch — a division
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. dip — to sink
  14. hand — in cards
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. vault — an arched ceiling
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. current — happening now
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. hand — help
  23. vault — a safe
  24. current — electric

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