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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bass — the fish
  4. court — for sport
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bound — certain
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. bank — for money
  9. court — of law
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. court — of a king
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. can — a tin
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bank — for money
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. roll — a cake
  20. plane — a tool
  21. bank — of a river
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. bass — low music

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