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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 little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bound — tied together
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bound — certain
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. current — of water
  10. suit — in cards
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. current — electric
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. suit — to fit
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bound — obliged
  17. saw — the tool
  18. current — happening now
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. straw — a straw man
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bear — the animal
  24. suit — clothes

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