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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 116 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. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. rest — what's left
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. saw — the tool
  8. current — of water
  9. rest — a break
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. rush — hurry
  14. saw — the tool
  15. current — happening now
  16. rest — what's left
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. stem — to come from
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. current — electric
  23. wake — a trail
  24. calf — a young animal

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