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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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bass — low music
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. current — of water
  5. march — the month
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rush — hurry
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. perch — the fish
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. lie — to recline
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. march — music
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. march — the month
  21. bass — the fish
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. current — happening now
  24. leaves — lets stay

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