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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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. deal — to handle
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. land — ground
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. staff — employees
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. game — wild animals
  15. staff — a stick
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. land — a country
  18. staff — employees
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. foot — a measure
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. land — to come down

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