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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 120 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: current · craft · fan · band · pass · hide · pitcher · calf

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. band — a ring
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. craft — boats
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. craft — a skill
  9. current — electric
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. pass — a permit
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. current — happening now
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. band — a music group
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. current — of water
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. pass — to succeed

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