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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: current · stem · rock · bay · pitch · file · hide · bear

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. stem — to come from
  3. file — a line of people
  4. current — happening now
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. bear — the animal
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. current — of water
  10. bear — the animal
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. rock — music
  13. file — a tool
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. pitch — completely
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. file — a document
  18. rock — a stone
  19. current — electric
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. rock — to move gently

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