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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: object · saw · pitcher · can · present · rock · calf · lie

  1. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. can — a tin
  3. present — there
  4. can — to be able to
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. present — the time now
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. present — a gift
  11. saw — the tool
  12. rock — a stone
  13. can — a tin
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lie — to recline
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — music
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. saw — the tool
  20. object — to protest
  21. object — an aim
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. calf — a young animal

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