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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. pitch — completely
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bore — to drill
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bore — to tire
  11. ball — a dance
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. tube — a container
  14. squash — to crush
  15. saw — the tool
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. tube — the underground
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. squash — the sport
  24. saw — the tool

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