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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. craft — a handicraft
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bulb — for light
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. chip — for betting
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. track — a song
  13. rush — hurry
  14. craft — boats
  15. bulb — for light
  16. craft — a skill
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. chip — to eat
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. track — to keep track
  24. track — a path

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