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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. The ________________ took off on time.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bank — for money
  4. roll — a list
  5. perch — the fish
  6. plane — a tool
  7. current — of water
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bank — of a river
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. plane — an aircraft
  12. rock — music
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. current — electric
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bank — for money
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. roll — a cake
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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