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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: jam · calf · cap · rest · bear · nail · bark · pop

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. pop — soda
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bark — to shout
  5. pop — to visit
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. cap — a hat
  9. pop — music
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. rest — what's left
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. rest — a break
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. bear — the animal
  23. cap — of ice
  24. calf — a young animal

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