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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. charge — in control
  5. bear — the animal
  6. track — a path
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. vault — a safe
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. field — farmland
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. fine — all right
  13. field — for sport
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. charge — electricity
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fine — high quality
  18. track — a song
  19. charge — a price
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. bear — the animal
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. field — a subject

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