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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bark · wound · fan · firm · current · ball · charge · calf

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. current — happening now
  3. charge — a price
  4. wound — an injury
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. charge — electricity
  7. current — electric
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. ball — a great time
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. bark — to shout
  14. firm — decided
  15. ball — a dance
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. charge — in control
  18. firm — a company
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wound — an injury
  21. firm — steady
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. current — of water

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