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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: board · bulb · pitcher · perch · calf · plane · face · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. plane — a tool
  4. perch — the fish
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. face — to point toward
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. current — of water
  9. face — part of the head
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. board — to get on
  15. board — a committee
  16. bulb — for light
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. current — electric
  22. bulb — for light
  23. face — to confront
  24. pitcher — a jug

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