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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: field · calf · mouse · saw · club · mug · pit · current

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  7. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. field — a subject
  5. mug — to rob
  6. club — for golf
  7. club — for dancing
  8. pit — a hole
  9. current — electric
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. field — for sport
  12. current — of water
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. saw — the tool
  15. field — farmland
  16. mug — a cup
  17. saw — the tool
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mug — a face
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. pit — in a race
  23. current — happening now
  24. club — a group

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