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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: current · rash · shower · lean · key · calf · charge · bay

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. key — the most important part
  3. lean — thin
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. rash — a series
  8. current — electric
  9. charge — electricity
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. key — in music
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. shower — to wash
  15. rash — hasty
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. key — for a lock
  18. current — of water
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. charge — a price
  21. current — happening now
  22. lean — to bend
  23. charge — in control
  24. shower — rain

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