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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 · fine · pop · foot · net · bulb · track · arm

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. track — a song
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bulb — for light
  6. net — in sport
  7. pop — music
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. fine — high quality
  10. track — a path
  11. fine — all right
  12. pop — to visit
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. foot — a measure
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. net — for catching
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. net — after costs
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. pop — soda
  24. track — to keep track

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