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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. mug — a face
  3. chip — for betting
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. date — the fruit
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rock — a stone
  11. mug — a cup
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. chip — to eat
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rock — music
  22. mug — to rob
  23. stem — to come from
  24. rush — hurry

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