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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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. When are we going to ________________?
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. can — to be able to
  3. squash — the sport
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. can — a tin
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. can — a tin
  9. land — ground
  10. charge — in control
  11. squash — to crush
  12. saw — the tool
  13. squash — the vegetable
  14. charge — a price
  15. land — to come down
  16. land — a country
  17. saw — the tool
  18. charge — electricity
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. foot — a measure
  23. mouse — the animal
  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