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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: current · toast · leaves · content · staff · pitch · sharp · jam

  1. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. content — the amount
  2. sharp — clever
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. current — of water
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. staff — employees
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. current — electric
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. toast — bread
  18. current — happening now
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. content — happy
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. staff — a stick
  23. staff — employees
  24. pitch — completely

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