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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: bay · calf · rush · straw · safe · pass · bear · lie

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bear — the animal
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bear — the animal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. rush — hurry
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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