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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: calf · foot · lash · bass · key · bulb · cue · bound

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. cue — a hint
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. bulb — for light
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. bound — certain
  8. bulb — for light
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. foot — a measure
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bass — low music
  13. cue — for pool
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bound — tied together
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. key — in music
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. cue — a signal
  23. key — for a lock
  24. foot — part of the body

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