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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: last · cabinet · charge · foot · tube · perch · mine · calf

  1. False peace will not ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. mine — belonging to me
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. charge — a price
  10. perch — the fish
  11. charge — in control
  12. foot — a measure
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mine — for digging
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. last — finally
  17. last — final
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. charge — electricity
  21. tube — a container
  22. tube — the underground
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. mine — an explosive

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