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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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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: rush · stand · wound · jam · cue · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. current — electric
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. cue — a hint
  9. stand — to bear
  10. cue — a signal
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. rush — hurry
  14. current — of water
  15. wound — an injury
  16. cue — for pool
  17. wound — an injury
  18. rush — to hurry

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