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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: track · wake · bass · calf · bark · temple · pit · lean

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. wake — a trail
  3. bass — the fish
  4. track — to keep track
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. lean — to bend
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. track — a path
  10. bark — to shout
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. track — a song
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bass — low music
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. lean — thin
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pit — in a race

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