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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: cabinet · object · hand · fine · hide · stem · calf · rock

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. rock — music
  6. fine — all right
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. object — to protest
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. hand — help
  13. object — an aim
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. hand — in cards
  16. stem — to come from
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. rock — a stone
  23. object — a thing
  24. fine — high quality

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