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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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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. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bank — of a river
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bear — the animal
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. current — electric
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. bass — the fish
  12. cue — a hint
  13. bass — low music
  14. chip — for betting
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. chip — to eat
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. bank — for money
  19. wax — to grow
  20. current — happening now
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. bank — for money
  23. cue — a signal
  24. current — of water

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