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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 116 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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. can — a tin
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. can — to be able to
  8. scale — size or range
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bark — to shout
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. charge — electricity
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. charge — a price
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. can — a tin
  23. scale — in music
  24. charge — in control

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