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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: kid · net · cue · current · arm · calf · perch · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. cue — for pool
  4. net — for catching
  5. ground — a position
  6. current — of water
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. net — in sport
  10. current — electric
  11. perch — the fish
  12. net — after costs
  13. ground — crushed
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. kid — child
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. kid — to tease
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. current — happening now
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cue — a hint

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