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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stock — goods
  6. row — to paddle
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. spring — of water
  11. trunk — of a tree
  12. object — an aim
  13. spring — the season
  14. object — a thing
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. spring — a coil
  17. object — to protest
  18. stock — shares
  19. tube — a container
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. tube — the underground
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. row — a line

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