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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. dip — to sink
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. foot — a measure
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. deal — to handle
  16. fine — all right
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. bulb — for light
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. fine — high quality
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. trunk — of a tree

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