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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: row · coach · current · saw · leaves · content · jam · file

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. file — a line of people
  3. file — a document
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. content — videos and posts
  6. content — the amount
  7. current — electric
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. content — happy
  11. file — a tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. row — a line
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. row — to paddle
  20. current — of water
  21. current — happening now
  22. saw — the tool
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. coach — a trainer

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