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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 116 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: bulb · track · pitch · row · band · saw · ruler · calf

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. pitch — completely
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. bulb — for light
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. track — to keep track
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. track — a path
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. band — a music group
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. track — a song
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — for light
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. band — a ring
  22. row — to paddle
  23. row — a line
  24. saw — the tool

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