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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. can — to be able to
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. dip — to sink
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. can — a tin
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. pitch — completely
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. can — a tin
  24. calf — a young animal

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