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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. track — a path
  3. kick — in football
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. roll — a list
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. track — a song
  12. track — to keep track
  13. march — music
  14. march — the month
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. season — in sport
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. season — of the year
  22. roll — a cake
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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