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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 · rash · net · track · calf · pitch · cabinet · hide

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. net — in sport
  3. current — happening now
  4. net — for catching
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. net — after costs
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. current — electric
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. rash — hasty
  14. track — to keep track
  15. rash — a series
  16. pitch — completely
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. current — of water
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. track — a song
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. cabinet — ministers

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