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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.

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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: leaves · staff · toast · calf · jam · dip · sharp · firm

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. firm — decided
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. firm — a company
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. firm — steady
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. staff — employees
  12. staff — employees
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. dip — to sink
  15. staff — a stick
  16. toast — bread
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. sharp — clever
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. jam — a tight spot

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