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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: calf · press · safe · spring · mouse · trunk · dip · stand

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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 car
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stand — to bear
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. press — to push
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. press — a publisher
  13. spring — a coil
  14. dip — to sink
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. spring — the season
  19. spring — of water
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. press — newspapers
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. mouse — for a computer

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