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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. The ball is in your ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. court — of law
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. court — of a king
  6. court — for sport
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. staff — employees
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. staff — a stick
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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