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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 120 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: fine · rock · current · mouse · fall · foot · staff · pitcher

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. current — electric
  3. fine — high quality
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. current — happening now
  6. foot — a measure
  7. fall — the season
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. rock — a stone
  11. rock — music
  12. fall — to drop
  13. staff — a stick
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. staff — employees
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. fine — all right
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. staff — employees
  21. current — of water
  22. fall — to drop
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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