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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 120 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: mark · calf · pass · bass · pitcher · can · bark · scale

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. scale — in music
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. mark — a trace
  10. bark — a dog's sound
  11. bass — low music
  12. mark — a grade
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. scale — size or range
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bass — the fish
  22. can — a tin
  23. bark — to shout
  24. pitcher — a jug

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