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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: sharp · snap · patient · bay · bound · can · bulb · calf

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. can — a tin
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. bound — tied together
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. bound — obliged
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bound — certain
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bulb — for light
  16. can — a tin
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. bulb — for light
  20. sharp — clever
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. snap — to click
  24. patient — a sick person

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