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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: bound · cabinet · calf · mark · current · ball · perch · pit

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bound — tied together
  6. current — electric
  7. ball — a dance
  8. current — of water
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mark — a trace
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. bound — certain
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pit — in a race
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. pit — a hole
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mark — a grade
  19. ball — a great time
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. perch — the fish
  23. current — happening now
  24. perch — for a bird

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