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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. tube — the underground
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. tube — a container
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. rush — hurry
  10. board — a committee
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. can — to be able to
  17. board — to get on
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. snap — to click

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