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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  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. deal — to handle
  2. board — a committee
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. bear — the animal
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. foot — a measure
  12. board — to get on
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bear — the animal
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bound — certain
  22. bound — obliged
  23. snap — to click
  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