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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. current — of water
  4. board — to get on
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. scale — in music
  11. board — a committee
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. scale — size or range
  17. current — electric
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. roll — a list
  21. roll — a cake
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. racket — a loud noise

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