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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. prune — to trim
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. dip — to sink
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. ball — a dance
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mug — a face
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. ball — a great time
  16. roll — a list
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mug — a cup
  20. mug — to rob
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. prune — to trim
  24. calf — a young animal

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