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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: rash · rush · saw · root · present · wave · jam · current

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. rush — hurry
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. rash — a series
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. root — of a plant
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. present — a gift
  12. root — of a word
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. current — electric
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rash — hasty
  17. saw — the tool
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. current — happening now
  20. saw — the tool
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. present — the time now
  23. current — of water
  24. present — there

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