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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 120 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 information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Did you ________________ the button?
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. staff — employees
  4. press — newspapers
  5. press — to push
  6. bear — the animal
  7. sharp — clever
  8. march — the month
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. file — a line of people
  11. bear — the animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. march — the month
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. kick — in football
  16. staff — employees
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. file — a tool
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. march — music
  21. staff — a stick
  22. press — a publisher
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. bear — to put up with

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