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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
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: degree · row · bark · pitcher · calf · cabinet · bore · temple

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. row — a line
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. degree — an amount
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. bore — to tire
  18. bore — to drill
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bark — to shout
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. degree — from a university
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. degree — temperature

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