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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.

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: dip · lie · rush · calf · bulb · fan · current · bore

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. current — happening now
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. current — of water
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bore — to drill
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. rush — hurry
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bulb — for light
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. bulb — for light
  21. dip — to sink
  22. lie — to recline
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. current — electric

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