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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: current · rush · pitcher · kick · mouse · object · calf · chip

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. chip — to eat
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. current — happening now
  7. rush — hurry
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. object — a thing
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. kick — in football
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. object — an aim
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. object — to protest
  21. current — of water
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. current — electric

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