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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 112 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
YesNo
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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: stick · mark · mouse · mine · calf · sharp · file · bass

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. mark — a grade
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. file — a document
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. file — a line of people
  8. file — a tool
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bass — the fish
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. sharp — clever
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. mine — for digging
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bass — low music
  22. mark — a trace
  23. sharp — with an edge
  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