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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
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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 · plane · scale · track · dip · mug · spell · stock

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. scale — size or range
  3. scale — in music
  4. spell — a short time
  5. mug — a face
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. stock — shares
  8. track — a song
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. plane — a tool
  12. track — a path
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. spell — letters
  15. track — to keep track
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. spell — magic
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — to rob
  24. stock — goods

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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