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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.

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: mine · temple · scale · bowl · file · lean · calf · nail

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. file — a document
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. file — a tool
  9. lean — thin
  10. scale — size or range
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. mine — for digging
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. file — a line of people
  21. scale — in music
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. lean — to bend
  24. temple — a place of worship

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