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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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. mug — to rob
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. wake — a trail
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. mug — a cup
  20. rock — a stone
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. pass — a permit
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. mug — a face

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