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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — the cause
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. foot — a measure
  7. can — to be able to
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. can — a tin
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. root — of a plant
  17. net — after costs
  18. cue — a signal
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. can — a tin
  21. net — for catching
  22. net — in sport
  23. cue — for pool
  24. foot — the bottom

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