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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: mine · calf · current · cabinet · bay · rush · stem · staff

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. mine — for digging
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. current — of water
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. current — electric
  7. stem — to come from
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. staff — a stick
  15. current — happening now
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. rush — hurry
  19. staff — employees
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. staff — employees
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. mine — belonging to me

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