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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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. foot — a measure
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. shower — rain
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. shower — to wash
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. key — the most important part
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. date — the fruit
  24. ruler — for measuring

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