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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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. current — electric
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mark — a trace
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. can — to be able to
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. can — a tin
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. board — to get on
  14. current — of water
  15. mark — a grade
  16. current — happening now
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. board — a committee
  22. foot — a measure
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. board — a flat piece

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