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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: ball · racket · can · present · staff · rock · land · current

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. staff — employees
  3. current — electric
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. can — to be able to
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. can — a tin
  9. land — ground
  10. rock — a stone
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. ball — a great time
  14. current — happening now
  15. land — a country
  16. land — to come down
  17. can — a tin
  18. present — there
  19. ball — a dance
  20. staff — a stick
  21. staff — employees
  22. present — a gift
  23. current — of water
  24. rock — music

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