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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 116 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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. lean — to bend
  3. sharp — clever
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. mark — a trace
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. mark — a grade
  8. lean — thin
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. dip — to sink
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. fan — a supporter

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