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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. toast — bread
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. roll — a cake
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. game — a match
  11. pound — a weight
  12. pound — to hit hard
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. game — wild animals
  15. roll — a list
  16. cue — a hint
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. cue — a signal
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. cue — for pool

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