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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: hand · press · lie · arm · wave · saw · calf · fork

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. press — newspapers
  3. hand — in cards
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. fork — in a road
  12. saw — the tool
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. press — a publisher
  15. press — to push
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. hand — help
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. lie — to recline
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. arm — a part of something

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