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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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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: bay · calf · mouse · temple · fork · bowl · bark · can

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. fork — a garden tool
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. can — a tin
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. fork — in a road
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. bark — to shout
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. can — a tin
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. temple — a place of worship

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