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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 120 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: can · land · calf · bore · firm · wake · rock · pass

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. rock — a stone
  4. firm — steady
  5. land — ground
  6. firm — decided
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. land — to come down
  10. wake — a trail
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. rock — music
  13. bore — to tire
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. bore — to drill
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. can — a tin
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. can — a tin
  21. firm — a company
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. pass — a permit
  24. land — a country

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