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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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. tube — the underground
  3. hand — help
  4. firm — a company
  5. key — in music
  6. current — of water
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. key — the most important part
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. current — electric
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. firm — decided
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. object — a thing
  15. tube — a container
  16. current — happening now
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. fine — high quality
  19. hand — in cards
  20. object — to protest
  21. fine — all right
  22. object — an aim
  23. key — for a lock
  24. hand — part of the body

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