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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: mark · current · staff · shower · bass · cue · face · net

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bass — the fish
  6. net — after costs
  7. face — to point toward
  8. mark — a grade
  9. face — part of the head
  10. net — in sport
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. staff — a stick
  13. bass — low music
  14. cue — a hint
  15. current — happening now
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. cue — a signal
  18. staff — employees
  19. shower — rain
  20. staff — employees
  21. mark — a trace
  22. net — for catching
  23. shower — to wash
  24. face — to confront

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