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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.

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: march · fine · track · bear · pitcher · ball · current · lie

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. current — electric
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. march — music
  5. lie — to recline
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a great time
  8. track — to keep track
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. fine — high quality
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. march — the month
  15. march — the month
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. current — happening now
  18. track — a song
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bear — the animal
  21. fine — all right
  22. current — of water
  23. track — a path
  24. lie — an untruth

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