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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 · cue · jam · drill · suit · file · march · pound

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. suit — clothes
  3. drill — the tool
  4. file — a tool
  5. march — the month
  6. cue — a hint
  7. suit — to fit
  8. current — happening now
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. march — the month
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. file — a document
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. drill — army training
  16. suit — in cards
  17. current — electric
  18. march — music
  19. cue — for pool
  20. drill — a practice
  21. pound — a weight
  22. pound — to hit hard
  23. cue — a signal
  24. current — of water

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