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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 120 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 · mug · bay · wound · season · face · bass · rush

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. face — to point toward
  3. current — happening now
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. face — to confront
  7. season — of the year
  8. face — part of the head
  9. current — electric
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. current — of water
  12. season — in sport
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — to rob
  15. bass — the fish
  16. mug — a face
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. wound — an injury
  20. bass — low music
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. wound — an injury
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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