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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: hand · pitch · current · calf · ball · pass · mouse · root

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. current — happening now
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. root — the cause
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. hand — help
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. hand — in cards
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. ball — a dance
  14. root — of a plant
  15. current — of water
  16. current — electric
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. root — of a word
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. pass — a permit
  22. ball — a great time
  23. pitch — completely
  24. calf — a young animal

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