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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: object · jam · current · saw · band · trunk · cue · calf

  1. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. current — electric
  5. saw — the tool
  6. object — a thing
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. cue — for pool
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. band — a music group
  11. object — to protest
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. object — an aim
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cue — a hint
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. saw — the tool
  23. band — a ring
  24. calf — a young animal

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