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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. bound — certain
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stem — to come from
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bound — tied together
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. can — a tin
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. can — to be able to
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. can — a tin
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a cup
  16. lie — to recline
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mug — a face
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. stem — of a plant

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