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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 had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. board — a committee
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. key — the most important part
  6. dip — to sink
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. key — for a lock
  10. foot — a measure
  11. key — in music
  12. rash — hasty
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. root — the cause
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. rash — a series
  21. toast — bread
  22. board — to get on
  23. root — of a word
  24. root — of a plant

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