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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  21. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. club — for golf
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. row — a line
  6. rash — hasty
  7. can — a tin
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. rash — a series
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. can — a tin
  14. row — to paddle
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. current — of water
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. can — to be able to
  20. club — a group
  21. club — for dancing
  22. current — electric
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. current — happening now

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