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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: net · swing · calf · dip · drill · can · field · plane

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — a tin
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. net — after costs
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. drill — the tool
  9. dip — to sink
  10. can — to be able to
  11. plane — a tool
  12. net — in sport
  13. field — farmland
  14. field — a subject
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. swing — in golf
  17. field — for sport
  18. swing — to play on
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. drill — army training
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. net — for catching
  24. swing — music

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