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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 120 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: squash · firm · bay · bound · degree · mouse · spell · calf

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. degree — temperature
  4. bound — tied together
  5. degree — from a university
  6. spell — letters
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. firm — steady
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. spell — magic
  14. firm — decided
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. degree — an amount
  17. firm — a company
  18. bound — obliged
  19. squash — to crush
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. spell — a short time
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. squash — the sport
  24. calf — of the leg

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