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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. charge — electricity
  4. roll — a list
  5. can — a tin
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. sharp — clever
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. press — a publisher
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. charge — in control
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. bulb — for light
  15. charge — a price
  16. craft — a skill
  17. can — to be able to
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. can — a tin
  20. press — to push
  21. press — newspapers
  22. craft — boats
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bulb — for light

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