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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: hand · squash · current · lie · stand · spell · calf · bank

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. spell — a short time
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. spell — letters
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. squash — to crush
  10. bank — for money
  11. hand — in cards
  12. bank — for money
  13. stand — to bear
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. hand — help
  16. lie — to recline
  17. squash — the sport
  18. current — electric
  19. current — of water
  20. bank — of a river
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. current — happening now
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. spell — magic

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