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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 · saw · ruler · rush · cabinet · last · can · wake

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. current — electric
  10. last — final
  11. saw — the tool
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. last — finally
  19. current — of water
  20. can — to be able to
  21. current — happening now
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. last — to go on
  24. saw — the tool

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