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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.

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: straw · object · calf · rest · ball · stock · fine · bass

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. ball — a great time
  3. bass — low music
  4. bass — the fish
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. ball — a dance
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. object — a thing
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rest — a break
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. fine — all right
  14. stock — goods
  15. fine — high quality
  16. object — an aim
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. stock — shares
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. object — to protest
  24. rest — what's left

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