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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: scale · mouse · bound · track · board · dip · ground · calf

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bound — tied together
  4. dip — to sink
  5. track — to keep track
  6. track — a song
  7. bound — certain
  8. ground — the earth
  9. board — to get on
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. ground — a position
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. scale — in music
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. ground — crushed
  19. track — a path
  20. board — a committee
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. scale — size or range
  23. bound — obliged
  24. mouse — for a computer

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