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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. key — for a lock
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. current — of water
  6. firm — a company
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. current — happening now
  9. spring — a coil
  10. current — electric
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. firm — steady
  14. key — the most important part
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. spring — of water
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bear — the animal
  19. key — in music
  20. bear — the animal
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. saw — the tool
  23. firm — decided
  24. spring — the season

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