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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: fine · track · date · stand · current · rush · chip · bowl

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. date — the fruit
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. chip — for betting
  6. current — of water
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. fine — all right
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. track — a path
  13. current — electric
  14. fine — high quality
  15. chip — to eat
  16. stand — to bear
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. track — a song
  20. rush — hurry
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. track — to keep track
  24. stand — for spectators

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