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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.

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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: wake · spell · bass · charge · fan · cue · calf · deal

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. cue — a hint
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. cue — for pool
  6. wake — a trail
  7. deal — to handle
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. cue — a signal
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bass — the fish
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. spell — letters
  14. bass — low music
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. charge — a price
  18. spell — magic
  19. charge — in control
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. charge — electricity

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