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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. can — a tin
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. march — the month
  5. degree — an amount
  6. board — to get on
  7. tube — a container
  8. key — the most important part
  9. march — the month
  10. current — electric
  11. degree — temperature
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. key — for a lock
  15. march — music
  16. current — of water
  17. tube — the underground
  18. can — to be able to
  19. current — happening now
  20. can — a tin
  21. degree — from a university
  22. board — a committee
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. key — in music

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