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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: bulb · saw · dip · rock · wave · lie · calf · foot

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. saw — the tool
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lie — to recline
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bulb — for light
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. rock — music
  10. bulb — for light
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. dip — to sink
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. rock — a stone
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. foot — a measure

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