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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 120 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 usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. plane — a tool
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. lie — to recline
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. pit — in a race
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. fork — in a road
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. wax — to grow
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. pit — a hole
  24. wax — in the ear

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