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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 120 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.

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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: calf · bass · staff · content · bay · bulb · spell · plane

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. spell — a short time
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bulb — for light
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. content — the amount
  9. staff — employees
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. plane — a tool
  12. bass — low music
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. staff — employees
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. spell — magic
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. content — happy
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. spell — letters
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bass — the instrument

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