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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.

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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. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. board — to get on
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. rock — a stone
  9. tube — a container
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — a permit
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. tube — the underground
  15. rock — music
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. board — a committee
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rush — hurry

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