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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mouse · calf · bulb · chest · current · last · foot · pit

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. current — happening now
  3. last — final
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. pit — a hole
  6. bulb — for light
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pit — in a race
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. current — of water
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. chest — of your body
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bulb — for light
  16. chest — of your body
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. current — electric
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. chest — a box
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. last — finally
  23. last — to go on
  24. mouse — the animal

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