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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  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. drill — army training
  2. bear — the animal
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. current — electric
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. current — of water
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. bear — the animal
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. drill — a practice
  12. cap — of ice
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. pass — a permit
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. cap — a lid
  17. cap — a hat
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. drill — the tool
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. foot — a measure
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — of the leg
  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