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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: calf · pound · jam · current · bark · spring · stick · mark

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. pound — a weight
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. current — electric
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. spring — the season
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. spring — of water
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. spring — a coil
  13. bark — to shout
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. current — of water
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. pound — to hit hard
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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