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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. kid — to tease
  3. staff — employees
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. staff — employees
  6. wax — to grow
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. kid — child
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. staff — a stick
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. fan — a supporter

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