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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: mouse · calf · tube · suit · mate · object · stand · pound

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. suit — clothes
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. mate — to breed
  8. suit — to fit
  9. mate — a partner
  10. suit — in cards
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. stand — to bear
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. tube — a container
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. pound — a weight
  20. object — an aim
  21. object — to protest
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. object — a thing
  24. tube — the underground

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