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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: pitcher · mate · firm · root · current · jam · wave · sharp

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. mate — a partner
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. root — the cause
  9. root — of a word
  10. firm — steady
  11. current — electric
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mate — to breed
  14. current — of water
  15. firm — a company
  16. firm — decided
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. mate — a friend
  20. current — happening now
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. sharp — clever

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