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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: rush · key · rest · firm · current · dip · foot · pitch

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. current — electric
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rush — hurry
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. dip — to sink
  7. firm — a company
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. current — happening now
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. pitch — completely
  13. firm — steady
  14. key — in music
  15. rest — a break
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. key — for a lock
  21. current — of water
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. firm — decided

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