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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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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 · kid · calf · object · foot · pass · lean · deal

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lean — to bend
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. object — a thing
  11. object — an aim
  12. deal — to handle
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. foot — a measure
  18. kid — to tease
  19. object — to protest
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. pass — a permit
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. kid — child
  24. lean — thin

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