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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 120 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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. can — a tin
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. last — to go on
  6. mark — a grade
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. wake — a trail
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mug — to rob
  12. last — finally
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. mug — a cup
  16. can — a tin
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. mug — a face
  19. foot — a measure
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. stand — to bear
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. calf — of the leg

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