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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: content · pitcher · tube · leaves · dip · rush · band · current

  1. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — happy
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. current — happening now
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. current — electric
  6. dip — to sink
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. tube — a container
  9. content — the amount
  10. tube — the underground
  11. current — of water
  12. band — a ring
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. band — a music group
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. rush — hurry
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. pitcher — in baseball

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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