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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. bank — for money
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. sharp — clever
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bank — for money
  9. snap — to click
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. stand — to bear
  13. rock — music
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. saw — the tool
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. bank — of a river
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. saw — the tool

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