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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: wake · calf · tube · temple · spell · rock · club · racket

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. tube — a container
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rock — music
  5. club — for golf
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. spell — a short time
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. club — a group
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. spell — magic
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. spell — letters
  21. club — for dancing
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. tube — the underground
  24. wake — a trail

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