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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: wind · cabinet · march · nail · current · jam · rock · leaves

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. march — the month
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. march — the month
  8. march — music
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. wind — moving air
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. rock — a stone
  14. wind — moving air
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. rock — music
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. current — happening now
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. current — electric
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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