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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: calf · rash · mouse · lie · stand · bowl · mine · bear

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. rash — hasty
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. rash — a series
  6. stand — to bear
  7. lie — to recline
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mine — for digging
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bear — the animal
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. bear — to put up with

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