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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: cabinet · vault · scale · bore · calf · saw · perch · current

  1. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bore — to tire
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. perch — the fish
  6. current — happening now
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. current — of water
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. saw — the tool
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. vault — a safe
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. saw — the tool
  18. scale — size or range
  19. bore — to drill
  20. current — electric
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. scale — in music

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