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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: jam · rest · fan · rush · rock · roll · current · hide

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. roll — a list
  3. rock — a stone
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rest — what's left
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. rush — hurry
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. rest — a break
  16. rock — music
  17. current — of water
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. current — electric
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. current — happening now
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — a supporter

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