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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: racket · stick · mark · deal · cabinet · current · shower · foot

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. current — happening now
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. current — electric
  7. shower — to wash
  8. deal — to handle
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. shower — rain
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. mark — a grade
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. foot — a measure
  21. current — of water
  22. mark — a trace
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. foot — part of the body

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