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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
468
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: cue · race · calf · scale · mouse · board · trunk · current

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. cue — a hint
  3. current — electric
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. board — to get on
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. race — a contest
  10. scale — in music
  11. cue — for pool
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. scale — size or range
  14. board — a committee
  15. race — humankind
  16. current — of water
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. race — the arms race
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. cue — a signal
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. current — happening now

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