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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 120 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
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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: hide · tube · calf · wound · leaves · mug · arm · pop

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wound — an injury
  4. pop — soda
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. pop — to visit
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mug — a face
  10. tube — a container
  11. tube — the underground
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. wound — an injury
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. pop — music
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. mug — a cup
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. leaves — of a tree

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