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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. ground — the earth
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. ground — crushed
  9. season — in sport
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. scale — in music
  16. mug — to rob
  17. rock — music
  18. mug — a face
  19. ground — a position
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. season — of the year
  23. mug — a cup
  24. kick — in football

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