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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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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. mate — a friend
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mate — a partner
  6. current — electric
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. current — happening now
  9. file — a document
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — a tin
  12. bass — the fish
  13. can — to be able to
  14. current — of water
  15. track — a path
  16. file — a tool
  17. bass — low music
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. board — a committee
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. file — a line of people
  22. mate — to breed
  23. board — to get on
  24. track — to keep track

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