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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: prune · season · tube · current · calf · pass · scale · stand

  1. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. prune — to trim
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. season — in sport
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. prune — to trim
  8. tube — a container
  9. scale — size or range
  10. current — happening now
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. current — of water
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. current — electric
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. season — of the year
  19. prune — the fruit
  20. scale — in music
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — a permit
  23. stand — to bear
  24. calf — a young animal

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