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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 giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  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. calf — a young animal
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. staff — a stick
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. plane — a tool
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. key — the most important part
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. staff — employees
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. toast — bread
  18. board — a committee
  19. key — in music
  20. rush — hurry
  21. board — to get on
  22. staff — employees
  23. key — for a lock
  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