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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.

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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: bore · game · scale · jam · stick · calf · pitcher · foot

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. scale — size or range
  8. bore — to drill
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bore — to tire
  13. scale — in music
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. game — wild animals
  18. foot — a measure
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. game — a match
  24. calf — a young animal

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