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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 flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  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. spring — the season
  2. spring — a coil
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. can — a tin
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. court — for sport
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. court — of law
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. foot — a measure
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. can — to be able to
  17. spring — of water
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. current — electric
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. current — happening now
  22. can — a tin
  23. court — of a king
  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