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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. mug — to rob
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. file — a line of people
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. file — a document
  12. mug — a cup
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. deal — to handle
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. file — a tool
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. chair — a leader
  21. mug — a face
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. chair — to sit on

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