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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 116 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: calf · fine · snap · rush · sharp · dip · bear · bore

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. fine — all right
  11. fine — high quality
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. bore — to tire
  17. rush — hurry
  18. snap — to click
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. bear — the animal
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. bore — to drill
  24. sharp — exactly

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