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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 · scale · prune · mug · toast · bulb · chip · wave

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  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. prune — to trim
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. bulb — for light
  5. mug — a face
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. prune — to trim
  9. scale — in music
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. chip — to eat
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. bulb — for light
  21. toast — bread
  22. chip — for betting
  23. calf — of the leg
  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