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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: calf · saw · deal · bear · mouse · ball

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. ball — a dance
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bear — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. ball — a great time
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. bear — the animal
  18. deal — to handle

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