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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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. can — to be able to
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. can — a tin
  9. foot — a measure
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. suit — clothes
  12. last — to go on
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. suit — to fit
  16. suit — in cards
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. deal — to handle
  19. last — finally
  20. lean — thin
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. lean — to bend
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. can — a tin

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