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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: ground · cabinet · calf · temple · hide · current · chair · arm

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ground — the earth
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. current — electric
  5. ground — a position
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. current — of water
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. ground — crushed
  12. chair — a professorship
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. current — happening now
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. chair — a leader
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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