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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. content — the amount
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. charge — electricity
  11. content — happy
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. pitch — completely
  17. charge — a price
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. wax — to grow
  20. charge — in control
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. date — the fruit
  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