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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: track · calf · board · present · mine · cue · current · chip

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. cue — a hint
  5. present — the time now
  6. track — to keep track
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. current — electric
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. chip — to eat
  12. board — a committee
  13. track — a song
  14. current — happening now
  15. board — to get on
  16. cue — a signal
  17. present — a gift
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. track — a path
  21. mine — for digging
  22. chip — for betting
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. current — of water

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