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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: scale · tube · stand · bowl · file · calf · spell · lie

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. spell — a short time
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. file — a line of people
  5. lie — to recline
  6. file — a document
  7. spell — magic
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. scale — size or range
  12. file — a tool
  13. tube — a container
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. tube — the underground
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stand — to bear
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. scale — in music
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. bowl — a dish

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