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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 giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. chest — of your body
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. foot — a measure
  7. wax — to grow
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. saw — the tool
  15. chest — of your body
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. saw — the tool
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. can — a tin
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. chest — a box

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