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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 116 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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. cap — a hat
  5. track — to keep track
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. staff — employees
  8. cap — a lid
  9. shower — rain
  10. cap — of ice
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. track — a path
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. track — a song
  15. rock — a stone
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. staff — employees
  20. shower — to wash
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. staff — a stick
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  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