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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. cue — for pool
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. cue — a signal
  7. kick — in football
  8. mug — a face
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. bear — the animal
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. deal — to handle
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. stem — to come from
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. mug — to rob
  22. bear — the animal
  23. cue — a hint
  24. kick — with a leg

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