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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. can — to be able to
  6. pop — soda
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. board — a committee
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. can — a tin
  14. board — to get on
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. pop — to visit
  18. dip — to sink
  19. wax — to grow
  20. lie — to recline
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. pop — music

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