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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 116 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: calf · mine · season · current · mug · rash · safe · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mug — to rob
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. bear — the animal
  6. season — of the year
  7. mug — a face
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. current — of water
  11. mine — for digging
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. current — electric
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. rash — a series
  19. mug — a cup
  20. current — happening now
  21. season — in sport
  22. rash — hasty
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. calf — of the leg

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