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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: cabinet · bass · temple · calf · net · kid · current · fan

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. current — electric
  5. bass — low music
  6. bass — the fish
  7. net — for catching
  8. net — after costs
  9. kid — to tease
  10. kid — child
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. current — of water
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. net — in sport
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. current — happening now
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. cabinet — ministers

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