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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: coach · can · cue · current · calf · board · wound · fine

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. cue — a hint
  3. current — electric
  4. can — a tin
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. board — to get on
  7. wound — an injury
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. cue — for pool
  10. can — a tin
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. fine — high quality
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. fine — all right
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. current — happening now
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. cue — a signal
  20. board — a committee
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. current — of water
  24. fine — a penalty

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