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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 116 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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. bear — the animal
  3. key — for a lock
  4. saw — the tool
  5. plane — a tool
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stand — to bear
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. rest — what's left
  17. saw — the tool
  18. key — the most important part
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. key — in music
  22. rest — a break
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bear — the animal

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