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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 116 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: fan · calf · bank · dip · deal · current · ruler · clip

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  11. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. current — electric
  6. clip — for paper
  7. bank — for money
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bank — of a river
  10. clip — a video
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. current — happening now
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. current — of water
  16. dip — to sink
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. deal — to handle
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. clip — to cut
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. dip — to dunk

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