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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: pitcher · stem · fine · mark · calf · drill · deal · perch

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  15. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. perch — the fish
  3. drill — army training
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. deal — to handle
  6. drill — the tool
  7. fine — all right
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mark — a grade
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. drill — a practice
  14. stem — to come from
  15. stem — a stem cell
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. fine — high quality
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. fine — a penalty

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