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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: staff · trunk · mug · arm · fan · file · calf · kid

  1. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a tree
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mug — to rob
  7. staff — a stick
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. kid — to tease
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. file — a document
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mug — a cup
  14. file — a tool
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. mug — a face
  17. file — a line of people
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — employees
  20. kid — child
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. fan — a supporter

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