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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. current — of water
  5. root — of a plant
  6. staff — a stick
  7. mark — a grade
  8. staff — employees
  9. mate — a friend
  10. current — happening now
  11. root — of a word
  12. bound — tied together
  13. root — the cause
  14. current — electric
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bound — certain
  17. mate — to breed
  18. bound — obliged
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. mate — a partner
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. staff — employees

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