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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. race — humankind
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. roll — a list
  5. bear — the animal
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. race — a contest
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. roll — a cake
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. present — the time now
  15. foot — a measure
  16. race — the arms race
  17. branch — a division
  18. present — there
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. present — a gift

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