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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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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 · racket · club · mug · bass · track · ball · net

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. ball — a great time
  4. net — in sport
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. net — for catching
  8. track — a song
  9. mug — to rob
  10. bass — low music
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. mug — a cup
  13. club — for golf
  14. track — to keep track
  15. track — a path
  16. club — for dancing
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. bass — the fish
  19. club — a group
  20. mug — a face
  21. ball — a dance
  22. net — after costs
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. racket — for tennis

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