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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. saw — the tool
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. net — in sport
  6. file — a line of people
  7. cue — for pool
  8. saw — the tool
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. file — a document
  12. net — after costs
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. net — for catching
  16. dip — to sink
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. file — a tool
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. calf — a young animal

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