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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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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. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. current — electric
  3. pitch — completely
  4. bass — the fish
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. current — of water
  7. current — happening now
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. bass — low music
  24. temple — side of the head

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