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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: net · dip · coach · current · calf · bulb · season · cue

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. current — electric
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. cue — for pool
  6. net — in sport
  7. bulb — for light
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cue — a hint
  10. dip — to sink
  11. season — in sport
  12. season — of the year
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. current — of water
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. net — for catching
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. current — happening now
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. net — after costs
  24. bulb — for light

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