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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mate — a friend
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. can — a tin
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. roll — a cake
  8. mate — to breed
  9. roll — a list
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. capital — a city
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. can — to be able to
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. can — a tin
  20. mate — a partner
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. foot — a measure
  24. capital — money

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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