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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.

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: pound · scale · net · spell · pop · cue · calf · bulb

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. pound — a weight
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. bulb — for light
  7. net — in sport
  8. scale — in music
  9. bulb — for light
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. spell — letters
  12. cue — for pool
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. cue — a signal
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. spell — magic
  17. pop — music
  18. net — for catching
  19. cue — a hint
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. pop — soda
  22. scale — size or range
  23. net — after costs
  24. pop — to visit

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