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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.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. tube — a container
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. current — of water
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. snap — to snap out of it
  8. bulb — for light
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. track — to keep track
  11. ball — a dance
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. snap — to click
  15. current — happening now
  16. current — electric
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. ball — a great time
  19. track — a path
  20. tube — the underground
  21. track — a song
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bulb — of a plant

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