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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: trunk · mouse · current · row · calf · can · saw · cue

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. row — to paddle
  4. cue — a hint
  5. can — to be able to
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. can — a tin
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. cue — a signal
  10. saw — the tool
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. can — a tin
  13. current — of water
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. current — happening now
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. saw — the tool
  19. row — a line
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. cue — for pool
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mouse — for a computer

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