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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.

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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. current — electric
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. cap — of ice
  7. bass — low music
  8. cue — for pool
  9. can — a tin
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bass — the fish
  12. can — to be able to
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cap — a hat
  18. cap — a lid
  19. can — a tin
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — of water
  24. jam — a tight spot

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