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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: mate · cell · tube · current · calf · key · spell · stand

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. He was locked up in a ________________.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. stand — to bear
  3. tube — the underground
  4. cell — in biology
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. current — happening now
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. key — the most important part
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. current — of water
  11. spell — letters
  12. current — electric
  13. mate — a partner
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. cell — in a prison
  16. cell — a phone
  17. key — in music
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. mate — to breed
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. mate — a friend
  22. spell — magic
  23. spell — a short time
  24. tube — a container

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