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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: face · leaves · date · calf · fall · current · chip · net

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. face — to point toward
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. net — in sport
  5. face — part of the head
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. net — after costs
  8. fall — the season
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. face — to confront
  11. current — of water
  12. fall — to drop
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. net — for catching
  15. chip — for betting
  16. date — the fruit
  17. current — happening now
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. fall — to drop
  23. chip — to eat
  24. calf — a young animal

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