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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — crushed
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. wax — to grow
  6. foot — a measure
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. net — after costs
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. net — for catching
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. net — in sport
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. ground — a position
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. kick — in football
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. stand — to bear
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. kick — a thrill

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