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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 always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. mug — a face
  4. spring — the season
  5. plane — a tool
  6. object — an aim
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. spring — a coil
  9. object — to protest
  10. mug — a cup
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. mug — to rob
  16. spring — of water
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. shower — to wash
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. shower — rain
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. object — a thing
  24. leaves — of a tree

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