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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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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 · nail · rock · saw · track · ball · net · race

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. track — a song
  3. saw — the tool
  4. net — in sport
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. race — humankind
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. saw — the tool
  12. track — to keep track
  13. track — a path
  14. net — after costs
  15. race — a contest
  16. race — the arms race
  17. ball — a great time
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. ball — a dance
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. rock — music
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. net — for catching

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