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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. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. ball — a great time
  4. cue — a signal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. field — for sport
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. suit — to fit
  10. field — farmland
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cue — for pool
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. cue — a hint
  21. ball — a dance
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. field — a subject
  24. suit — clothes

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