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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. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. staff — employees
  3. bass — the fish
  4. staff — a stick
  5. board — to get on
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. current — electric
  8. rock — a stone
  9. roll — a cake
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. board — a committee
  12. current — of water
  13. current — happening now
  14. rock — music
  15. bass — low music
  16. toast — bread
  17. roll — a list
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. rush — hurry
  24. staff — employees

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