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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.

Make a worksheet

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: kick · mug · game · press · sharp · rush · calf · current

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rush — hurry
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. current — of water
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. press — a publisher
  11. game — a match
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. mug — a cup
  14. kick — in football
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — to rob
  18. game — wild animals
  19. sharp — clever
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. press — to push
  22. current — happening now
  23. press — newspapers
  24. rush — a thrill

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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