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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: current · cue · spring · stand · mark · calf · mate · stick

  1. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. spring — of water
  7. current — happening now
  8. spring — a coil
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cue — a signal
  11. mate — a friend
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. mark — a grade
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. current — electric
  16. spring — the season
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. mate — a partner
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. mate — to breed
  21. current — of water
  22. mark — a trace
  23. cue — a hint
  24. calf — a young animal

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