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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 · press · current · cap · cell · can · wound · fine

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. can — a tin
  3. press — a publisher
  4. fine — all right
  5. current — happening now
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. current — of water
  8. can — a tin
  9. cap — of ice
  10. wound — an injury
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. cap — a lid
  13. cell — in biology
  14. cell — a phone
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. press — to push
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. current — electric
  19. fine — high quality
  20. can — to be able to
  21. press — newspapers
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. cap — a hat
  24. wound — an injury

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