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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: current · cap · net · rush · content · firm · ground · calf

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. cap — of ice
  3. current — happening now
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. net — after costs
  6. content — happy
  7. current — electric
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. content — the amount
  10. firm — steady
  11. ground — a position
  12. cap — a hat
  13. firm — decided
  14. ground — the earth
  15. cap — a lid
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. ground — crushed
  19. net — for catching
  20. current — of water
  21. firm — a company
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rush — to hurry

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