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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 120 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 · can · temple · snap · stem · hand · wake · fan

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. snap — to click
  10. wake — a trail
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. hand — help
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. hand — in cards
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. stem — to come from

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