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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.

Make a worksheet

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: arm · leaves · mug · pass · fall · calf · staff · ball

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. staff — employees
  5. mug — to rob
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. staff — employees
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. pass — a permit
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. mug — a cup
  15. fall — to drop
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. mug — a face
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. ball — a dance
  22. ball — a great time
  23. fall — the season
  24. staff — a stick

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