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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: calf · pop · firm · board · racket · bulb · bore · fan

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. pop — music
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. pop — to visit
  13. bore — to tire
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. pop — soda
  16. firm — decided
  17. board — to get on
  18. firm — steady
  19. firm — a company
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. board — a committee
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. bore — gave birth

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