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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 120 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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. wake — a trail
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. kick — with a leg
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. kick — in football
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. bank — for money
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bank — of a river
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. trunk — of a tree

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