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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
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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: lie · can · hide · calf · roll · march · craft · mark

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. roll — a cake
  3. march — the month
  4. march — music
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. mark — a grade
  9. lie — to recline
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. roll — a list
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. can — a tin
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. craft — a skill
  19. can — to be able to
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. march — the month
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. craft — boats
  24. mark — a trace

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