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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 120 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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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 · cue · current · court · pitcher · branch · suit · stand

  1. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. The ball is in your ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — a division
  2. cue — for pool
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. suit — to fit
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. court — for sport
  9. cue — a hint
  10. court — of a king
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. suit — clothes
  15. cue — a signal
  16. current — electric
  17. stand — to bear
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. current — of water
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. court — of law
  22. current — happening now
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. suit — in cards

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