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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 120 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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. wax — to grow
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. squash — the sport
  5. key — the most important part
  6. mark — a grade
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. squash — to crush
  9. mark — a trace
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. staff — employees
  13. key — in music
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. staff — a stick
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. kick — in football
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. key — for a lock
  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