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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. wound — past of 'wind'
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. wound — an injury
  5. board — a committee
  6. fine — high quality
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. fine — all right
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. cap — a hat
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. wound — an injury
  18. board — to get on
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. cap — a lid
  22. dip — to sink
  23. cap — of ice
  24. pitcher — a jug

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