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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: calf · rock · bay · pop · content · bulb · sharp · craft

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. craft — a skill
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bulb — for light
  5. craft — boats
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. content — the amount
  9. rock — music
  10. pop — to visit
  11. rock — a stone
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. content — happy
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. pop — soda
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. sharp — clever
  20. bulb — for light
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. pop — music
  24. rock — to move gently

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