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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: calf · rock · lie · date · bulb · mark · capital · pass

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. mark — a trace
  3. date — the fruit
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lie — to recline
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bulb — for light
  12. capital — a city
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mark — a grade
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — music
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. capital — money
  22. pass — a permit
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. calf — of the leg

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