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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.

Make a worksheet

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 ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. season — in sport
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. season — of the year
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mouse — the animal

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