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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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. staff — employees
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. rash — hasty
  11. staff — employees
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. lie — to recline
  14. track — a path
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. track — a song
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. track — to keep track
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. rash — a series

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