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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 protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. chest — of your body
  3. chest — a box
  4. rock — music
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. bulb — for light
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. chest — of your body
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. cue — a signal
  13. current — of water
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. scale — size or range
  16. cue — a hint
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. current — happening now
  19. current — electric
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bulb — for light
  22. cue — for pool
  23. scale — in music
  24. safe — out of danger

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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