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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: squash · foot · calf · current · bass · suit · cabinet · rock

  1. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. suit — to fit
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bass — low music
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. current — electric
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. squash — to crush
  11. current — of water
  12. current — happening now
  13. rock — music
  14. foot — a measure
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. rock — a stone
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. suit — in cards
  23. bass — the fish
  24. suit — clothes

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