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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. firm — decided
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. craft — a skill
  7. firm — steady
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. fine — high quality
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. fine — all right
  18. craft — boats
  19. sharp — clever
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. stem — to come from
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. dip — to sink
  24. plane — a tool

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