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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 120 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: cue · deal · calf · scale · charge · can · bank · firm

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. can — to be able to
  4. firm — a company
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. can — a tin
  7. cue — a signal
  8. firm — decided
  9. bank — for money
  10. scale — size or range
  11. cue — for pool
  12. charge — a price
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. charge — electricity
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. firm — steady
  18. deal — to handle
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bank — for money
  22. can — a tin
  23. charge — in control
  24. scale — in music

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