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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. current — of water
  3. current — happening now
  4. field — for sport
  5. current — electric
  6. mate — a friend
  7. ball — a great time
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mate — a partner
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mate — to breed
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. ball — a dance
  16. board — to get on
  17. field — farmland
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. field — a subject
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. roll — a cake
  24. board — a committee

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