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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. pitch — completely
  4. season — of the year
  5. firm — steady
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. bound — tied together
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. firm — a company
  13. lean — to bend
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. bound — certain
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. season — in sport
  23. bound — obliged
  24. lean — thin

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