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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. cell — a phone
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rash — hasty
  17. cell — in biology
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. rash — a series
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. temple — side of the head

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