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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. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. cue — for pool
  3. court — for sport
  4. current — of water
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. court — of law
  7. cue — a hint
  8. sharp — clever
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bank — for money
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. deal — to handle
  15. cue — a signal
  16. current — happening now
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. court — of a king
  20. bank — of a river
  21. current — electric
  22. bank — for money
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. sharp — exactly

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