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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. staff — employees
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. row — to paddle
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. staff — employees
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. board — a committee
  16. board — to get on
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. row — a line
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. staff — a stick
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. calf — a young 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