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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: spell · calf · file · bear · dip · mouse · mark · bulb

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. bear — the animal
  3. mark — a trace
  4. spell — a short time
  5. bulb — of a plant
  6. file — a line of people
  7. mark — a grade
  8. spell — magic
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. dip — to sink
  11. file — a tool
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. bear — the animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. file — a document
  18. bulb — for light
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. spell — letters

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