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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. charge — a price
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. tube — a container
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. plane — a tool
  10. charge — electricity
  11. charge — in control
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — of a river
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bank — for money
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. tube — the underground
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. pass — a permit
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. tube — in a tire

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