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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: net · date · current · bear · rock · stand · squash · mouse

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. bear — the animal
  3. squash — the sport
  4. net — after costs
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bear — the animal
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. squash — to crush
  11. date — the fruit
  12. current — happening now
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. net — for catching
  15. current — of water
  16. rock — a stone
  17. stand — to bear
  18. net — in sport
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. current — electric
  24. rock — music

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