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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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. dip — to sink
  3. scale — in music
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. scale — size or range
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fine — high quality
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. can — a tin
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. fine — all right
  17. present — a gift
  18. can — a tin
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. present — there
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. can — to be able to
  24. present — the time now

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