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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: calf · craft · saw · jam · charge · arm · hide · wake

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. craft — boats
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. craft — a skill
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. charge — a price
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. charge — electricity
  10. saw — the tool
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. wake — a trail
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. saw — the tool
  19. charge — in control
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. hide — animal skin

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