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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bear — the animal
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. mate — a friend
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. mate — a partner
  8. stem — to come from
  9. mug — a cup
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mate — to breed
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mug — a face
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bear — the animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. ruler — a monarch

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