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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 120 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 stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. saw — the tool
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. track — a path
  5. staff — employees
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. staff — employees
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. tube — a container
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. track — to keep track
  17. track — a song
  18. field — a subject
  19. tube — the underground
  20. staff — a stick
  21. field — farmland
  22. saw — the tool
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. rush — hurry

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