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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 giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fork — in a road
  3. staff — employees
  4. pound — to hit hard
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — a stick
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. suit — in cards
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. suit — to fit
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. pound — a weight
  19. wax — to grow
  20. net — after costs
  21. net — in sport
  22. net — for catching
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. suit — clothes

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