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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 · date · mouse · pitch · swing · wake · jam · calf

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. swing — in golf
  4. swing — music
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bulb — for light
  8. pitch — completely
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. wake — a trail
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bulb — for light
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. swing — to play on
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. calf — of the leg

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