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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: hide · foot · calf · pitch · pass · shower · sharp · fan

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. shower — rain
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. sharp — clever
  8. foot — a measure
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. pitch — completely
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. pass — a permit
  23. shower — to wash
  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