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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: board · current · vault · field · rash · perch · can · calf

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  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. board — a flat piece
  2. rash — a series
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. current — electric
  5. can — to be able to
  6. perch — the fish
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. field — a subject
  9. current — happening now
  10. field — farmland
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. board — to get on
  13. vault — a safe
  14. rash — hasty
  15. board — a committee
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. can — a tin
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. field — for sport
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — of water
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. calf — of the leg
  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