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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 · cap · date · mouse · arm · lean · toast · chip

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. lean — to bend
  3. chip — to eat
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. cap — a hat
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. cap — a lid
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. chip — for betting
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. lean — thin
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. cap — of ice
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. toast — bread
  24. date — on the calendar

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