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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  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. calf — of the leg
  2. field — farmland
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. press — newspapers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. field — for sport
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. press — to push
  12. field — a subject
  13. press — a publisher
  14. bear — the animal
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. branch — a division
  19. foot — a measure
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. calf — a young animal
  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