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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 is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. rock — music
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. court — of law
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. rock — a stone
  15. cue — for pool
  16. staff — employees
  17. staff — a stick
  18. court — for sport
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. sharp — clever
  21. cue — a hint
  22. court — of a king
  23. cue — a signal
  24. staff — employees

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