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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: key · jam · can · arm · rush · face · pitcher · current

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — in music
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. can — a tin
  7. face — to point toward
  8. can — to be able to
  9. current — of water
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. face — part of the head
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. current — happening now
  17. key — the most important part
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. can — a tin
  22. rush — hurry
  23. face — to confront
  24. current — electric

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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