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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
468
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: straw · calf · saw · press · root · arm · mug · cabinet

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. press — to push
  4. press — a publisher
  5. root — of a plant
  6. mug — a cup
  7. saw — the tool
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. press — newspapers
  10. root — of a word
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. mug — to rob
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. mug — a face
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. root — the cause
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. saw — the tool

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