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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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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: calf · jam · bay · toast · straw · prune · wake · object

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. wake — a trail
  3. object — a thing
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. object — an aim
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. object — to protest
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. prune — to trim
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. toast — bread
  15. straw — to clutch at straws
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. prune — to trim
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. toast — the most admired

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