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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
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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 · wound · scale · fork · spell · mug · jam

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. spell — magic
  3. plane — a tool
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. mug — a face
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. scale — in music
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. fork — in a road
  12. scale — size or range
  13. mug — a cup
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. mug — to rob
  16. spell — a short time
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. wound — an injury
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. spell — letters
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. jam — a tight spot

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