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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: sharp · bowl · current · board · lean · snap · bear · pop

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. pop — soda
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pop — music
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. bear — the animal
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. board — a committee
  9. pop — to visit
  10. lean — thin
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. bear — the animal
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. sharp — clever
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. snap — to click
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. board — to get on
  23. lean — to bend
  24. bowl — a dish

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