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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. charge — electricity
  6. charge — a price
  7. can — a tin
  8. saw — the tool
  9. can — to be able to
  10. chest — of your body
  11. can — a tin
  12. chest — of your body
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. stock — shares
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. stock — goods
  17. charge — in control
  18. chest — a box
  19. saw — the tool
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. ball — a great time
  23. ball — a dance
  24. date — the fruit

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