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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: net · ruler · key · tube · band · track · calf · bulb

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. net — in sport
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. key — in music
  6. net — after costs
  7. tube — a container
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. track — a song
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. track — to keep track
  16. key — the most important part
  17. net — for catching
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bulb — for light
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. track — a path
  22. band — a ring
  23. band — a music group
  24. tube — the underground

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