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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.

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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: temple · track · racket · suit · fork · ball · calf · wave

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. suit — in cards
  5. suit — to fit
  6. track — to keep track
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. ball — a great time
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. suit — clothes
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. track — a song
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. fork — in a road
  22. wave — of the sea
  23. track — a path
  24. temple — side of the head

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