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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 120 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: stick · mouse · game · fan · craft · safe · calf · ground

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. There's no middle ________________.
  7. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. craft — boats
  4. ground — the earth
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. ground — a position
  7. game — a kind of play
  8. game — a match
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. craft — a skill
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ground — crushed
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. game — wild animals

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