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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.

Make a worksheet

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: calf · object · content · mate · can · mug · racket · stem

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mate — to breed
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. stem — to come from
  6. can — a tin
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. mate — a friend
  9. mug — a face
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. object — a thing
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. object — an aim
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. mug — to rob
  17. can — to be able to
  18. content — the amount
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. object — to protest
  21. content — happy
  22. mate — a partner
  23. mug — a cup
  24. racket — a loud noise

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