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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 · root · suit · current · kick · clip · sharp · bulb

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. bulb — for light
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bulb — for light
  5. sharp — clever
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. current — happening now
  8. root — of a plant
  9. clip — for paper
  10. current — of water
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. clip — a video
  13. root — the cause
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. root — of a word
  17. suit — to fit
  18. current — electric
  19. suit — in cards
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. suit — clothes
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. clip — to cut
  24. bulb — of a plant

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