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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: calf · pass · current · arm · bore · coach · pitcher · shower

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. shower — rain
  3. shower — to wash
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. bore — to drill
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. pass — a permit
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. current — electric
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. current — of water
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bore — to tire

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