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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. ground — crushed
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. rest — what's left
  7. ground — the earth
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. rest — what's left
  12. mug — to rob
  13. ground — a position
  14. wax — to grow
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. mug — a cup
  17. rest — a break
  18. mug — a face
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. kick — in football
  22. foot — a measure
  23. vault — a safe
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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