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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.

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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: bowl · deal · season · hide · current · cabinet · mark · calf

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. season — of the year
  12. season — in sport
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bowl — a dish
  17. current — of water
  18. mark — a trace
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. mark — a grade
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. current — electric
  23. deal — to handle
  24. mark — to pay attention

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