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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. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. board — a committee
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. root — of a word
  6. staff — employees
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. root — of a plant
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. staff — a stick
  15. wax — to grow
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. root — the cause
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. staff — employees
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. board — to get on
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. calf — of the leg

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