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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: mouse · rock · temple · mine · foot · hand · calf · wake

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. hand — in cards
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. hand — help
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. rock — a stone
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. mine — for digging
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. wake — a trail
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. rock — music
  24. foot — a measure

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