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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: cell · pit · saw · current · bulb · calf · racket · trunk

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. pit — a hole
  3. current — of water
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pit — in a race
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. current — electric
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. cell — a phone
  19. saw — the tool
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. current — happening now
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. cell — in biology

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