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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: ruler · pop · season · racket · pitcher · saw · current · stand

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pop — music
  4. current — electric
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. pop — soda
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. saw — the tool
  13. season — in sport
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. season — of the year
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. pop — to visit
  19. current — happening now
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. current — of water
  22. stand — to bear
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. saw — the tool

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