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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 116 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 · plane · deal · cabinet · mate · current · rush · land

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The ________________ took off on time.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. current — happening now
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. current — of water
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. land — a country
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. land — ground
  9. mate — a partner
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. plane — an aircraft
  14. deal — to handle
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rush — hurry
  18. land — to come down
  19. mate — a friend
  20. current — electric
  21. plane — a tool
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. mate — to breed

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