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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: calf · mug · date · fan · charge · arm · drill · face

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. face — part of the head
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. face — to point toward
  7. mug — to rob
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. date — the fruit
  10. mug — a face
  11. charge — a price
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. charge — in control
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. drill — army training
  17. drill — the tool
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. face — to confront
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. charge — electricity
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. mug — a cup
  24. date — on the calendar

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