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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: bore · rush · saw · current · object · stand · calf · pitch

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  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 drill
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bore — to tire
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. pitch — completely
  9. rush — hurry
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. current — of water
  13. object — a thing
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. object — an aim
  16. stand — to bear
  17. object — to protest
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. current — happening now
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. saw — the tool
  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