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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: bass · calf · bowl · mouse · drill · field · deal · scale

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. field — farmland
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. drill — a practice
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. drill — the tool
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. field — for sport
  11. field — a subject
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. scale — in music
  15. bass — the fish
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. drill — army training
  19. scale — size or range
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. bass — low music
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. mouse — the animal

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