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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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. sharp — clever
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rash — hasty
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. can — a tin
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. prune — to trim
  15. can — a tin
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. prune — to trim
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. can — to be able to
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. rash — a series

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