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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. rock — a stone
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mug — a face
  9. staff — employees
  10. mug — a cup
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. staff — employees
  14. stand — to bear
  15. rock — music
  16. staff — a stick
  17. hand — in cards
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. saw — the tool
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hand — help
  24. calf — of the leg

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