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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
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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: season · net · can · bulb · mouse · calf · bass · toast

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. can — a tin
  11. net — for catching
  12. can — a tin
  13. season — of the year
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. net — in sport
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. bass — low music
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. season — in sport
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bass — the fish
  24. toast — bread

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