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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: wave · calf · jam · trunk · safe · pass · ground · stick

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. There's no middle ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. ground — a position
  3. ground — the earth
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. pass — a permit
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. ground — crushed
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. calf — a young animal

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