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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. rock — a stone
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. fork — in a road
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. net — in sport
  7. wound — an injury
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. net — for catching
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. rock — music
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. net — after costs
  18. wound — an injury
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. scale — in music
  23. scale — size or range
  24. fork — a garden 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