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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: fan · tube · cabinet · racket · track · calf · press · bear

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. press — a publisher
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. bear — the animal
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. press — to push
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. track — a song
  11. press — newspapers
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. tube — a container
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. track — a path
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. tube — the underground
  20. track — to keep track
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the animal

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