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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. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. root — of a plant
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. root — of a word
  7. charge — electricity
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. can — to be able to
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. charge — a price
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. can — a tin
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. toast — bread
  16. can — a tin
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. root — the cause
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. charge — in control

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