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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The ball is in your ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mate — a friend
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. court — of law
  7. mate — a partner
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. current — electric
  11. court — for sport
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. can — to be able to
  14. court — of a king
  15. mate — to breed
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. can — a tin
  19. current — happening now
  20. rock — music
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. rock — a stone
  24. current — of water

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