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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 sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. bass — low music
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. net — for catching
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. bank — for money
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. net — in sport
  12. club — for golf
  13. date — the fruit
  14. club — for dancing
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. club — a group
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bank — for money
  20. bass — the fish
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. net — after costs
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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