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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
468
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: wake · calf · wave · bulb · rock · craft · fan · cell

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. wake — a trail
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rock — music
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. bulb — for light
  11. craft — boats
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. cell — in biology
  14. craft — a skill
  15. bulb — for light
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. cell — a phone
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. rock — a stone
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. wave — with your hand

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