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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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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. suit — clothes
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. suit — in cards
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bore — to drill
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. shower — rain
  15. dip — to sink
  16. shower — to wash
  17. rash — a series
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. suit — to fit
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. safe — out of danger

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