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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: calf · plane · row · staff · bass · rock · cap · capital

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. row — to paddle
  3. rock — music
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. cap — a lid
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. staff — a stick
  8. plane — a tool
  9. rock — a stone
  10. capital — a city
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. cap — of ice
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. row — a line
  17. staff — employees
  18. bass — the fish
  19. cap — a hat
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. staff — employees
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. capital — money
  24. bass — low music

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