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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 120 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
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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: calf · leaves · hide · charge · stock · sharp · clip · coach

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. stock — shares
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. charge — in control
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. stock — a soup base
  11. sharp — clever
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. charge — electricity
  16. clip — for paper
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. clip — a video
  20. stock — goods
  21. charge — a price
  22. clip — to cut
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. leaves — of a tree

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