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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: current · suit · deal · ball · pound · wax · bass · calf

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. suit — to fit
  3. ball — a great time
  4. deal — to handle
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. bass — low music
  7. current — of water
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. suit — clothes
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. pound — a weight
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. pound — for dogs
  14. wax — to grow
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. current — happening now
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. suit — in cards
  21. current — electric
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bass — the fish

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