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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: snap · bore · stick · bulb · jam · bass · net · calf

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. net — after costs
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. net — for catching
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. snap — to click
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. net — in sport
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. bulb — for light
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bore — to tire
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. bass — low music

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