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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 120 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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. content — the amount
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. current — happening now
  6. cap — a lid
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. can — a tin
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. cap — of ice
  11. kid — child
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. content — happy
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. can — a tin
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. cap — a hat
  19. current — electric
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. kid — to tease
  24. pass — a permit

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