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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: pound · swing · pitcher · wound · current · cabinet · suit · leaves

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. current — happening now
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. wound — an injury
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. current — electric
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. current — of water
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. swing — to play on
  17. suit — in cards
  18. pound — a weight
  19. suit — to fit
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. wound — an injury
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. swing — music
  24. leaves — lets stay

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