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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: scale · stem · charge · suit · bark · saw · calf · fine

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. bark — to shout
  3. suit — in cards
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. stem — to come from
  6. charge — a price
  7. saw — the tool
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. fine — high quality
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. suit — to fit
  15. scale — in music
  16. charge — in control
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. saw — the tool
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. charge — electricity
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. scale — size or range

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