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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The ________________ market has crashed.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. row — a line
  5. stock — goods
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. row — to paddle
  9. wax — to grow
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. saw — the tool
  12. cap — a lid
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cap — a hat
  15. staff — a stick
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. staff — employees
  18. staff — employees
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. toast — bread
  23. cap — of ice
  24. stock — shares

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