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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.

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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 · rash · fork · track · pass · wind · cue · press

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. wind — moving air
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. fork — in a road
  7. press — newspapers
  8. cue — for pool
  9. rash — hasty
  10. wind — to turn a key
  11. press — to push
  12. track — a song
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. track — to keep track
  16. rash — a series
  17. track — a path
  18. wind — moving air
  19. press — a publisher
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — a signal
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. pass — a permit

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