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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: file · jam · current · bowl · firm · pitch · nail · ball

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  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. bowl — to roll
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. file — a document
  6. current — electric
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. firm — a company
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. file — a tool
  16. ball — a dance
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. firm — steady
  20. firm — decided
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. file — a line of people
  23. bowl — a dish
  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