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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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. sharp — clever
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. bulb — for light
  6. tube — a container
  7. bulb — for light
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. cue — a signal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. chip — to eat
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. cue — for pool
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. chip — for betting
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. cue — a hint
  24. chip — in a computer

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