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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. can — a tin
  6. club — for golf
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. club — a group
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. club — for dancing
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. can — a tin
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. can — to be able to
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. chip — for betting
  24. nail — on a finger

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