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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 · spell · bore · rock · pit · toast · lie · pop

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. pit — in a race
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. pop — to visit
  5. rock — music
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. pop — music
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bore — to drill
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. spell — letters
  17. toast — bread
  18. pop — soda
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. pit — a hole
  21. spell — a short time
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bore — to tire

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