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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 120 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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. key — for a lock
  3. key — the most important part
  4. current — of water
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. can — to be able to
  7. current — electric
  8. suit — to fit
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. suit — clothes
  12. current — happening now
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. can — a tin
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. key — in music
  17. can — a tin
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. suit — in cards
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. fan — a supporter

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