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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. scale — in music
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. firm — steady
  8. firm — a company
  9. firm — decided
  10. mate — a friend
  11. prune — to trim
  12. bear — the animal
  13. mate — a partner
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. pitch — completely
  16. bear — the animal
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. scale — size or range
  21. foot — a measure
  22. prune — to trim
  23. mate — to breed
  24. bear — to put up with

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