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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 has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. bear — the animal
  3. can — a tin
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. can — to be able to
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. lean — to bend
  10. stand — to bear
  11. bulb — for light
  12. lean — thin
  13. can — a tin
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bulb — for light
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. bear — the animal
  24. stand — on your feet

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