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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 · toast · roll · mine · bowl · face · rock · track

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. rock — music
  3. rock — a stone
  4. current — happening now
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. current — of water
  7. track — a song
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. track — a path
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. toast — bread
  14. face — to confront
  15. mine — for digging
  16. track — to keep track
  17. roll — a cake
  18. face — to point toward
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. current — electric
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. roll — a list
  24. bowl — a dish

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