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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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. file — a tool
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. scale — in music
  7. mate — a partner
  8. file — a line of people
  9. mate — a friend
  10. scale — size or range
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. plane — a tool
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mate — to breed
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. roll — a cake
  23. file — a document
  24. roll — a list

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