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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. spring — the season
  6. foot — a measure
  7. spring — of water
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. spring — a coil
  10. can — to be able to
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. mark — a grade
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. mark — a trace
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. wound — an injury
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. deal — to handle
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. wound — an injury

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