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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. chest — a box
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. fork — in a road
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rash — a series
  10. fine — high quality
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. rash — hasty
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. chest — of your body
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. chest — of your body
  17. staff — employees
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. staff — a stick
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. fine — all right
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. calf — a young animal

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