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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: can · wound · nail · craft · current · content · rock · rush

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. content — the amount
  5. craft — a skill
  6. can — a tin
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. wound — an injury
  13. content — happy
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. can — to be able to
  16. craft — boats
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. current — happening now
  21. wound — an injury
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. can — a tin
  24. rock — music

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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