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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. rest — what's left
  7. mug — a face
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. snap — to click
  10. mug — to rob
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. rest — a break
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. wind — moving air
  18. rest — what's left
  19. wind — moving air
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. fine — all right
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fine — high quality
  24. mug — a cup

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