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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 ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. key — in music
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. key — for a lock
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. key — the most important part
  18. sharp — clever
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. saw — the tool
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. saw — the tool
  24. pitcher — a jug

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