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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.

Make a worksheet

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: leaves · calf · tube · toast · ball · fork · bass · net

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. ball — a dance
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. tube — a container
  5. net — in sport
  6. bass — the fish
  7. fork — in a road
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. ball — a great time
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. tube — the underground
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. net — after costs
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — bread
  24. bass — low music

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