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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.

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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: calf · rock · bowl · bank · root · deal · cabinet · bark

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bank — of a river
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bark — to shout
  7. root — the cause
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bank — for money
  11. root — of a word
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bark — a dog's sound
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. deal — to handle
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. bank — for money
  18. root — of a plant
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. rock — music
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. rock — a stone

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