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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
468
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: staff · sharp · dip · roll · current · ruler · bass · band

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. staff — employees
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. staff — employees
  7. roll — a list
  8. sharp — clever
  9. current — happening now
  10. band — a music group
  11. roll — a cake
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. staff — a stick
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bass — low music
  17. current — electric
  18. current — of water
  19. bass — the fish
  20. dip — to sink
  21. band — a ring
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. ruler — a monarch

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