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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: bay · can · race · suit · pound · current · rush · sharp

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. current — electric
  3. sharp — clever
  4. pound — a weight
  5. suit — to fit
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. rush — hurry
  8. suit — in cards
  9. can — a tin
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. race — the arms race
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. current — happening now
  14. can — to be able to
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. suit — clothes
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. race — humankind
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. current — of water
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. race — a contest

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