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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: stand · file · toast · cue · foot · current · mark · wound

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. file — a document
  3. foot — a measure
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. mark — a grade
  6. wound — an injury
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. cue — a signal
  9. file — a line of people
  10. current — of water
  11. mark — a trace
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. file — a tool
  16. wound — an injury
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. cue — for pool
  19. stand — to bear
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. cue — a hint
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. current — happening now
  24. toast — bread

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