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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: calf · snap · can · toast · last · mouse · scale · stick

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. can — to be able to
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. scale — size or range
  10. last — to go on
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. scale — in music
  16. toast — bread
  17. last — final
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. snap — to click
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. can — a tin
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. can — a tin

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