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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. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. mug — a cup
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mug — to rob
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. saw — the tool
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. mug — a face
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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