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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. ground — the earth
  4. bass — low music
  5. hand — in cards
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. stand — to bear
  10. face — part of the head
  11. face — to point toward
  12. ground — a position
  13. kick — with a leg
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. hand — help
  19. bass — the fish
  20. vault — a safe
  21. kick — in football
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. ground — crushed
  24. face — to confront

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