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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: calf · current · trunk · fan · toast · chest · pitch · dip

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. chest — a box
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. toast — bread
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. current — of water
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. dip — to sink
  16. current — electric
  17. chest — of your body
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. chest — of your body
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. current — happening now
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. pitch — completely

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