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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: key · plane · current · wave · arm · sharp · calf · leaves

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. current — electric
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. key — the most important part
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. current — of water
  18. current — happening now
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. plane — a tool
  22. key — in music
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. wave — of the sea

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