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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: cabinet · ball · plane · toast · band · calf · mug · shower

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. ball — a dance
  3. mug — a face
  4. toast — bread
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. shower — rain
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. band — a ring
  15. ball — a great time
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. band — a music group
  18. mug — to rob
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. shower — to wash
  21. plane — a tool
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. mug — a cup
  24. cabinet — ministers

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