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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: stick · toast · calf · foot · snap · bear · safe · mate

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. mate — a partner
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. toast — bread
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. snap — to click
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. foot — a measure
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. bear — the animal
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. bear — the animal
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. snap — to speak sharply
  23. mate — a friend
  24. calf — of the leg

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