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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 116 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: hide · calf · rock · game · can · prune · plane · ball

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  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. rock — to move gently
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. game — wild animals
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. rock — a stone
  8. game — a match
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. prune — to trim
  11. can — a tin
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. can — a tin
  16. ball — a dance
  17. plane — a tool
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. prune — to trim
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. ball — a great time
  22. rock — music
  23. can — to be able to
  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