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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 116 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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. bank — for money
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bank — of a river
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. staff — employees
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. cue — a hint
  9. staff — a stick
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. kick — in football
  12. rush — hurry
  13. stem — to come from
  14. mine — for digging
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bank — for money
  18. cue — a signal
  19. staff — employees
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. cue — for pool

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