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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
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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: firm · sharp · hand · calf · cap · squash · net · object

  1. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. net — for catching
  3. squash — to crush
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. cap — a hat
  6. firm — decided
  7. firm — a company
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. object — to protest
  11. hand — in cards
  12. object — a thing
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. net — in sport
  15. sharp — clever
  16. cap — of ice
  17. squash — the sport
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. firm — steady
  20. object — an aim
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. cap — a lid
  23. net — after costs
  24. hand — part of the body

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