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

Word bank: stick · bay · lie · chip · calf · fine · race · nail

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  20. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with 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. chip — for betting
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. race — humankind
  7. chip — to eat
  8. fine — all right
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. race — the arms race
  20. race — a contest
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. fine — high quality
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  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