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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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  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. calf — of the leg
  2. plane — a tool
  3. key — the most important part
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. current — happening now
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. key — in music
  11. bore — to drill
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. current — of water
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. bore — to tire
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. key — for a lock
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. current — electric
  22. content — happy
  23. content — the amount
  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