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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: sharp · foot · lean · net · calf · dip · staff · hand

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. net — for catching
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. staff — a stick
  6. net — in sport
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. staff — employees
  9. lean — thin
  10. hand — help
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. hand — in cards
  13. foot — a measure
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. lean — to bend
  16. sharp — clever
  17. staff — employees
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. dip — to sink
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. net — after costs
  24. foot — the bottom

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