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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. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. root — the cause
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. net — after costs
  5. net — for catching
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. saw — the tool
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. key — the most important part
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. key — in music
  13. root — of a plant
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. root — of a word
  20. net — in sport
  21. key — for a lock
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. patient — a sick person

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