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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: firm · saw · current · wake · ball · perch · suit · mug

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. wake — a trail
  3. suit — clothes
  4. mug — a cup
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. current — electric
  7. saw — the tool
  8. firm — steady
  9. mug — to rob
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. ball — a great time
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. current — happening now
  15. suit — to fit
  16. firm — a company
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. current — of water
  19. saw — the tool
  20. perch — the fish
  21. firm — decided
  22. mug — a face
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. suit — in cards

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