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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. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. net — for catching
  3. rest — what's left
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. craft — boats
  6. craft — a skill
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. net — in sport
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. net — after costs
  14. roll — a list
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. rest — a break
  19. bark — to shout
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. rest — what's left
  24. craft — a handicraft

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