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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. court — of a king
  3. root — of a plant
  4. bound — tied together
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bound — obliged
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. root — the cause
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. bound — certain
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. toast — bread
  15. root — of a word
  16. court — of law
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. court — for sport
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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