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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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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 carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. net — in sport
  6. current — electric
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. stock — goods
  10. ball — a great time
  11. saw — the tool
  12. current — of water
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. bank — of a river
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. net — after costs
  17. current — happening now
  18. stock — shares
  19. ball — a dance
  20. net — for catching
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bank — for money
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. bank — for money

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