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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. file — a document
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. current — electric
  6. file — a line of people
  7. bank — for money
  8. cue — a hint
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. current — happening now
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. bank — for money
  13. rush — hurry
  14. bank — of a river
  15. mark — a grade
  16. cue — a signal
  17. track — to keep track
  18. mark — a trace
  19. track — a song
  20. file — a tool
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. track — a path
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. current — of water

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