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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. staff — a stick
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. stem — to come from
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. charge — electricity
  9. charge — a price
  10. staff — employees
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. staff — employees
  20. squash — to crush
  21. date — the fruit
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. charge — in control
  24. squash — the sport

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