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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: leaves · current · spring · net · can · pitch

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. spring — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. can — a tin
  5. net — in sport
  6. pitch — completely
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. current — of water
  9. can — a tin
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. net — for catching
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. spring — a coil
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. net — after costs
  17. current — happening now
  18. pitch — a sales talk

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