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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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. mug — a face
  5. mate — to breed
  6. wound — an injury
  7. bass — the fish
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. toast — bread
  10. current — of water
  11. bass — low music
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. mate — a friend
  14. current — happening now
  15. mate — a partner
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. deal — to handle
  18. mug — a cup
  19. mug — to rob
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. current — electric
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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