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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
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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: calf · band · stand · key · current · drill · cue · degree

  1. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — from a university
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. current — of water
  5. cue — a signal
  6. key — for a lock
  7. current — happening now
  8. cue — for pool
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. band — a ring
  12. stand — to bear
  13. band — a music group
  14. drill — army training
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. key — the most important part
  17. drill — the tool
  18. cue — a hint
  19. key — in music
  20. degree — temperature
  21. degree — an amount
  22. drill — a practice
  23. current — electric
  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