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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
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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: dip · current · calf · ball · mate · cap · march · deal

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. march — the month
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. mate — a partner
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. cap — a hat
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. ball — a great time
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. current — happening now
  13. march — music
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. dip — to sink
  16. cap — of ice
  17. cap — a lid
  18. current — electric
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. mate — to breed
  21. mate — a friend
  22. march — the month
  23. ball — a dance
  24. deal — to handle

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