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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 116 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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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: bear · mug · lie · net · calf · band · bay · root

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. root — of a word
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. mug — to rob
  10. root — of a plant
  11. bear — the animal
  12. lie — to recline
  13. mug — a cup
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. band — a ring
  18. root — the cause
  19. net — after costs
  20. net — in sport
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. net — for catching
  23. band — a music group
  24. mug — a face

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