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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: stem · sharp · calf · lie · firm · pass · mouse · chest

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. chest — a box
  4. firm — decided
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — to recline
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. sharp — clever
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. firm — a company
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. stem — to come from
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. firm — steady
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. stem — of a plant
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. chest — of your body
  22. chest — of your body
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. mouse — the animal

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