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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  7. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The water is too ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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. stick — a piece of wood
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. root — of a word
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. cold — the Cold War
  7. cold — an illness
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. root — of a plant
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. rest — what's left
  15. rock — music
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. cold — not warm
  18. root — the cause
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rest — a break
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. rest — what's left
  24. rock — a stone

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