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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.

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: cue · firm · foot · current · bay · dip · squash · ground

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. squash — to crush
  3. current — of water
  4. current — electric
  5. firm — steady
  6. ground — the earth
  7. ground — a position
  8. foot — a measure
  9. dip — to sink
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. current — happening now
  13. firm — a company
  14. ground — crushed
  15. firm — decided
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. squash — the sport
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. cue — a hint
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. dip — to dunk

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