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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.

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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: rock · jam · rush · bore · date · calf · race · cap

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. rock — a stone
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rock — music
  6. race — humankind
  7. race — a contest
  8. cap — a lid
  9. race — the arms race
  10. bore — to tire
  11. cap — a hat
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. date — the fruit
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. cap — of ice
  21. bore — to drill
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. date — on the calendar

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