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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: ground · craft · can · jam · current · hand · ruler · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. current — of water
  3. craft — a skill
  4. hand — in cards
  5. ground — a position
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. fine — all right
  8. ground — crushed
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. ground — the earth
  11. can — a tin
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. current — happening now
  14. can — to be able to
  15. craft — boats
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. current — electric
  18. hand — help
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. fine — high quality
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. can — a tin

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