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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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The ________________ market has crashed.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. staff — employees
  5. stock — shares
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. stock — goods
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. kick — in football
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. fork — in a road
  13. rock — a stone
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. staff — a stick
  17. staff — employees
  18. kick — a thrill
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. rock — music
  24. leaves — lets stay

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