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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: current · drill · suit · calf · squash · fan · pop · date

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. suit — to fit
  3. squash — the sport
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. current — happening now
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. current — electric
  8. squash — to crush
  9. pop — soda
  10. drill — a practice
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. date — the fruit
  13. drill — the tool
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. current — of water
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. drill — army training
  20. suit — clothes
  21. pop — music
  22. pop — to visit
  23. suit — in cards
  24. date — on the calendar

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