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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 120 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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. last — to go on
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pit — a hole
  5. bore — to drill
  6. can — a tin
  7. mark — a grade
  8. can — to be able to
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. pit — in a race
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. last — final
  14. mark — a trace
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. last — finally
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. can — a tin
  23. bore — to tire
  24. safe — out of danger

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