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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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. current — electric
  3. bank — of a river
  4. current — of water
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. bank — for money
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. object — a thing
  9. firm — a company
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. firm — decided
  12. bank — for money
  13. object — an aim
  14. bore — to drill
  15. can — a tin
  16. current — happening now
  17. bore — to tire
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. object — to protest
  23. firm — steady
  24. calf — a young animal

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