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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. tube — a container
  3. current — happening now
  4. can — to be able to
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. current — of water
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. cue — a signal
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. swing — to play on
  13. current — electric
  14. track — a path
  15. stem — to come from
  16. can — a tin
  17. track — to keep track
  18. tube — the underground
  19. can — a tin
  20. swing — music
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. cue — a hint
  23. track — a song
  24. cue — for pool

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