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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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. spell — magic
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. prune — to trim
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. plane — a tool
  9. lean — to bend
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. prune — to trim
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. lie — to recline
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. spell — a short time
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. spell — letters
  22. lean — thin
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. prune — the fruit

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