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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: cue · calf · wound · fan · net · current · stick · temple

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. cue — a hint
  3. current — of water
  4. wound — an injury
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. cue — for pool
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. wound — an injury
  10. net — for catching
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. current — happening now
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. cue — a signal
  20. current — electric
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. net — after costs

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