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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: mate · bore · stick · roll · rush · season · staff · calf

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. staff — employees
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. roll — a list
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. mate — to breed
  11. staff — employees
  12. season — in sport
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. rush — hurry
  15. staff — a stick
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bore — to drill
  19. season — of the year
  20. mate — a partner
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bore — to tire
  23. mate — a friend
  24. roll — a cake

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