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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. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. charge — in control
  3. cue — a signal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cue — a hint
  11. charge — a price
  12. net — after costs
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. rush — hurry
  15. net — for catching
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. tube — the underground
  18. tube — a container
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. net — in sport
  23. charge — electricity
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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