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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. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. drill — the tool
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. can — a tin
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bat — the animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. net — for catching
  13. foot — a measure
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. drill — army training
  17. can — a tin
  18. bat — in an idiom
  19. bulb — for light
  20. drill — a practice
  21. net — after costs
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. net — in sport
  24. calf — of the leg

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