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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: roll · patient · calf · spell · pop · leaves · can · plane

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. plane — a tool
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. pop — soda
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. roll — a list
  19. spell — letters
  20. roll — a cake
  21. spell — a short time
  22. pop — to visit
  23. spell — magic
  24. can — a tin

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