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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: bay · hand · bear · lie · mouse · calf · press · rock

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. hand — help
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. press — a publisher
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. press — to push
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. press — newspapers
  17. rock — music
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. rock — a stone
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bear — the animal
  24. lie — to recline

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