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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · object · spring · calf · straw · saw · foot · pit

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. saw — the tool
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. pit — in a race
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. spring — a coil
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. foot — a measure
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. object — to protest
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. spring — the season
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. object — an aim
  17. pit — a hole
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. object — a thing
  21. saw — the tool
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. spring — of water

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