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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 · charge · can · mouse · plane · stick · clip · root

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. root — of a plant
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. clip — to cut
  7. clip — for paper
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. can — a tin
  10. charge — a price
  11. root — of a word
  12. charge — in control
  13. clip — a video
  14. root — the cause
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. can — to be able to
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. charge — electricity
  21. can — a tin
  22. plane — a tool
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. mouse — 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