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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.

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: plane · calf · scale · pitch · net · mate · wound · mouse

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. plane — a tool
  3. net — for catching
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. net — after costs
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. net — in sport
  13. pitch — completely
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mate — a friend
  17. wound — an injury
  18. mate — a partner
  19. mate — to breed
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. scale — size or range
  22. scale — in music
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. mouse — the animal

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