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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: content · date · object · current · can · pitcher · bowl · saw

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. current — electric
  3. object — a thing
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. current — happening now
  6. can — to be able to
  7. current — of water
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. saw — the tool
  10. can — a tin
  11. object — to protest
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. content — happy
  18. can — a tin
  19. date — the fruit
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. saw — the tool
  24. object — an aim

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