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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: calf · bound · arm · file · face · cell · charge · toast

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. file — a line of people
  4. charge — electricity
  5. bound — obliged
  6. cell — in biology
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. face — part of the head
  9. file — a document
  10. charge — in control
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. file — a tool
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. cell — a phone
  16. face — to point toward
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. face — to confront
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. charge — a price
  22. toast — bread
  23. bound — certain
  24. bound — tied together

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