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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. kick — in football
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. staff — a stick
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. chip — to eat
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. lie — to recline
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. squash — the sport
  12. staff — employees
  13. chip — for betting
  14. squash — to crush
  15. rash — hasty
  16. can — a tin
  17. can — to be able to
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. can — a tin
  20. rash — a series
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. staff — employees
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. lie — an untruth

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