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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. pop — to visit
  3. foot — a measure
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pop — soda
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — a cake

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