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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
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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: sharp · current · leaves · saw · rock · pitcher · bay · present

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. present — the time now
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. rock — music
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. rock — a stone
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. sharp — clever
  14. current — electric
  15. current — of water
  16. present — a gift
  17. current — happening now
  18. saw — the tool
  19. present — there
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. sharp — with an edge

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