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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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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: fall · calf · mug · bulb · squash · fan · nail · track

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. track — a song
  6. bulb — for light
  7. squash — to crush
  8. track — to keep track
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. mug — to rob
  11. track — a path
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fall — the season
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mug — a cup
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. squash — the sport
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. mug — a face
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. fall — to drop
  24. fall — to drop

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