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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. key — in music
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. perch — the fish
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. key — the most important part
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. current — of water
  14. current — electric
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. press — to push
  17. press — a publisher
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. key — for a lock
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. press — newspapers
  24. current — happening now

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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