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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: stick · calf · object · prune · last · bowl · cabinet · patient

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. object — a thing
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. object — an aim
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. last — to go on
  10. last — finally
  11. object — to protest
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. prune — to trim
  22. last — final
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. prune — to trim

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