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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. mate — to breed
  5. bank — for money
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. key — for a lock
  8. bank — of a river
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. fine — all right
  11. land — a country
  12. pit — a hole
  13. key — the most important part
  14. key — in music
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. land — ground
  17. fine — high quality
  18. pit — in a race
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. mate — a partner
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. land — to come down
  24. mate — a friend

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