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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: lie · rush · mouse · trunk · calf · saw · tear · face

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. rush — hurry
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. face — part of the head
  7. lie — to recline
  8. face — to confront
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. saw — the tool
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. tear — from crying
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. saw — the tool
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. tear — from crying
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. tear — to rip
  24. face — to point toward

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