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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.

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: current · rock · bass · squash · toast · cabinet

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. bass — the fish
  7. current — electric
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rock — music
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. current — happening now
  13. rock — a stone
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bass — low music
  17. squash — the sport
  18. toast — bread

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