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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.

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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: calf · pitcher · bark · can · board · bass · jam · file

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. board — to get on
  3. file — a document
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. file — a tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. file — a line of people
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bass — low music
  11. can — to be able to
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. bass — the fish
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. board — a committee
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. can — a tin
  22. bark — to shout
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  24. bark — of a tree

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