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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: tube · last · staff · bark · current · calf · present · coach

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. False peace will not ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. tube — the underground
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. current — of water
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. present — the time now
  8. staff — employees
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. present — there
  11. staff — a stick
  12. staff — employees
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. last — final
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. current — happening now
  18. present — a gift
  19. last — finally
  20. tube — a container
  21. current — electric
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. last — to go on

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