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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. ball — a dance
  3. ball — a great time
  4. can — a tin
  5. current — happening now
  6. cue — for pool
  7. shower — to wash
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. pop — music
  12. can — a tin
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. current — electric
  15. shower — rain
  16. cue — a signal
  17. can — to be able to
  18. pop — to visit
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. shower — a meteor shower
  23. cue — a hint
  24. pop — soda

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