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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: arm · current · calf · mug · mark · bulb · spell · can

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. mark — a grade
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. can — to be able to
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. spell — magic
  9. mark — a trace
  10. spell — letters
  11. bulb — for light
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. can — a tin
  14. mug — to rob
  15. mug — a face
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. current — electric
  19. can — a tin
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. current — happening now
  22. current — of water
  23. mug — a cup
  24. spell — a short time

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