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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: dip · season · bound · current · mug · track · chip · last

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. last — finally
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. current — electric
  5. bound — certain
  6. track — a song
  7. track — a path
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. mug — a cup
  10. season — in sport
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. bound — tied together
  13. track — to keep track
  14. chip — to eat
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. dip — to sink
  17. mug — to rob
  18. bound — obliged
  19. last — to go on
  20. chip — for betting
  21. last — final
  22. current — happening now
  23. mug — a face
  24. season — of the year

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