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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: stick · last · ball · leaves · bulb · calf · saw · dip

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. bulb — for light
  4. last — finally
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. dip — to sink
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. saw — the tool
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. ball — a great time
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. saw — the tool
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. last — to go on
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. last — final
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. ball — a dance

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