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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.

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 · leaves · current · foot · jam · kick · hand · vault

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cue — a signal
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. cue — a hint
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. kick — in football
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. foot — a measure
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. hand — help
  13. current — electric
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. vault — a safe
  19. hand — in cards
  20. current — happening now
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. cue — for pool
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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