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

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. cue — a hint
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. cue — a signal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bass — the fish
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. fine — high quality
  17. fine — all right
  18. bass — low music
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. cue — for pool
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bear — 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