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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: snap · perch · calf · bulb · bass · ball · coach · cue

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bass — low music
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. cue — a hint
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bulb — for light
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. ball — a great time
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. bass — the fish
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. snap — to click
  17. cue — a signal
  18. ball — a dance
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. perch — the fish
  24. cue — for pool

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