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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: straw · mate · rock · leaves · calf · mouse · root · current

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. rock — music
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. current — electric
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. current — happening now
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. rock — a stone
  14. root — the cause
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. current — of water
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. mate — a friend
  20. root — of a word
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. root — of a plant
  24. mate — a partner

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