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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: rock · mark · roll · current · perch · fan · present · bank

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — electric
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. present — there
  5. current — of water
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. perch — the fish
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. rock — a stone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. roll — a list
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. mark — a grade
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bank — for money
  18. present — the time now
  19. mark — a trace
  20. rock — music
  21. present — a gift
  22. bank — of a river
  23. bank — for money
  24. roll — a cake

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