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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 band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. can — a tin
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. march — the month
  12. object — a thing
  13. can — a tin
  14. march — the month
  15. scale — in music
  16. current — of water
  17. object — to protest
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. scale — size or range
  20. current — electric
  21. object — an aim
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. current — happening now
  24. rush — hurry

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