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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 · bear · net · rest · bowl · chip · lean · can

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. lean — thin
  4. lean — to bend
  5. rest — a break
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. rest — what's left
  9. can — to be able to
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. chip — for betting
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. can — a tin
  14. bear — the animal
  15. net — in sport
  16. net — after costs
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. net — for catching
  19. rest — what's left
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. chip — to eat
  23. can — a tin
  24. bowl — a dish

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