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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: lean · jam · face · calf · bay · leaves · rash · perch

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. face — part of the head
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. rash — hasty
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. lean — to bend
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. rash — a series
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. face — to point toward
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. lean — thin
  24. face — to confront

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