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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. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. can — a tin
  3. current — of water
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. pound — a weight
  9. can — to be able to
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. current — electric
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. current — happening now
  14. branch — a division
  15. can — a tin
  16. bore — to drill
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. bore — to tire
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. calf — of the leg

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