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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
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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: object · roll · cabinet · date · stem · ball · calf · mate

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. roll — a list
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ball — a great time
  11. date — the fruit
  12. stem — to come from
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. roll — a cake
  17. mate — to breed
  18. object — to protest
  19. ball — a dance
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. object — a thing
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mate — a friend
  24. date — on the calendar

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