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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: mouse · lie · can · prune · safe · calf · sharp · staff

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. sharp — clever
  8. can — to be able to
  9. prune — to trim
  10. staff — employees
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. staff — employees
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. can — a tin
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. staff — a stick
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. prune — to trim
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lie — to recline
  24. safe — a strongbox

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