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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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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: pop · bound · rock · trunk · current · swing · pitch · track

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. bound — tied together
  3. rock — music
  4. track — to keep track
  5. current — happening now
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. pitch — completely
  9. bound — obliged
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. current — electric
  12. swing — in golf
  13. pop — to visit
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. track — a path
  16. current — of water
  17. pop — soda
  18. track — a song
  19. swing — to play on
  20. bound — certain
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. rock — a stone
  23. pop — music
  24. pitch — a sports field

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