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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. saw — the tool
  3. mug — a face
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. saw — the tool
  9. cell — in biology
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. can — a tin
  12. mug — a cup
  13. cell — a phone
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. cue — a hint
  18. mug — to rob
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. can — a tin
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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