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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
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: straw · mouse · deal · nail · mine · pitcher · calf · club

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — dry grass
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. club — for golf
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. club — for dancing
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. club — a group
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. mine — for digging
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. deal — to handle

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