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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 116 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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — hurry
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. wake — a trail
  11. game — a match
  12. net — after costs
  13. game — wild animals
  14. bass — the fish
  15. bass — low music
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. net — in sport
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. net — for catching
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. safe — out of danger

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