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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: rush · rock · pound · wound · nail · current · suit · fine

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rush — hurry
  5. pound — a weight
  6. current — electric
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. suit — clothes
  11. wound — an injury
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. fine — all right
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. fine — high quality
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. wound — an injury
  18. current — happening now
  19. suit — to fit
  20. current — of water
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. suit — in cards
  23. rock — music
  24. pound — to hit hard

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