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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 120 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 protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stock — shares
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. mark — a trace
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. can — a tin
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. can — a tin
  17. plane — a tool
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. mark — a grade
  21. stock — goods
  22. perch — the fish
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. safe — a strongbox

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