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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: fine · coach · roll · current · calf · key · ruler · net

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. current — electric
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — of water
  8. roll — a cake
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. key — in music
  11. net — in sport
  12. key — for a lock
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. fine — high quality
  15. net — after costs
  16. current — happening now
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. roll — a list
  20. key — the most important part
  21. fine — all right
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. net — for catching
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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