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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: arm · dip · saw · charge · staff · calf · bark · stand

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. staff — employees
  3. staff — employees
  4. charge — electricity
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. dip — to sink
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. staff — a stick
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. charge — in control
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. charge — a price
  21. bark — to shout
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. saw — the tool
  24. stand — to bear

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