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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 120 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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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: rush · mug · spell · mine · board · mate · calf · bear

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. spell — magic
  3. mug — to rob
  4. mate — to breed
  5. rush — hurry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. bear — the animal
  9. mine — for digging
  10. board — a committee
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. bear — the animal
  14. mate — a partner
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. mug — a cup
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. mate — a friend
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. spell — a short time
  22. mug — a face
  23. board — to get on
  24. spell — letters

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