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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. cue — a hint
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. mine — an explosive
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. mine — for digging
  9. net — in sport
  10. net — for catching
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. net — after costs
  13. cue — for pool
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. cue — a signal
  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