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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: perch · object · scale · plane · roll · calf · club · trunk

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. club — a group
  5. scale — size or range
  6. roll — a cake
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. club — for golf
  9. scale — in music
  10. object — an aim
  11. object — a thing
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. plane — a tool
  15. object — to protest
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. club — for dancing
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. perch — the fish
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. perch — for a bird

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