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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: foot · mouse · calf · bass · rest · cap · trunk · bear

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. cap — a hat
  4. bass — the fish
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rest — a break
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. cap — a lid
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bass — low music
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. foot — a measure
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. cap — of ice
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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