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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 120 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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. field — for sport
  3. ball — a great time
  4. suit — clothes
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. key — in music
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. key — for a lock
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. suit — to fit
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. hand — in cards
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. lie — to recline
  17. vault — a safe
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. suit — in cards
  20. hand — help
  21. key — the most important part
  22. ball — a dance
  23. field — a subject
  24. field — farmland

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