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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: tube · plane · snap · mouse · foot · prune · mug · calf

  1. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. plane — a tool
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mug — a cup
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. prune — to trim
  8. foot — a measure
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. prune — to trim
  15. tube — the underground
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a face
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. snap — to click
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. tube — a container

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