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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
468
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: season · calf · scale · charge · object · hide · bass · current

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. current — happening now
  3. charge — a price
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. season — of the year
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. object — to protest
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. current — of water
  12. charge — in control
  13. season — in sport
  14. current — electric
  15. bass — the fish
  16. scale — in music
  17. object — a thing
  18. object — an aim
  19. scale — size or range
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. charge — electricity
  22. bass — low music
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. calf — of the leg

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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