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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: mug · current · stand · file · pound · can · present · foot

  1. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — to hit hard
  2. current — electric
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. pound — a weight
  5. mug — to rob
  6. present — the time now
  7. stand — to bear
  8. mug — a cup
  9. can — a tin
  10. file — a document
  11. current — of water
  12. file — a line of people
  13. current — happening now
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. mug — a face
  17. present — there
  18. present — a gift
  19. foot — a measure
  20. file — a tool
  21. can — to be able to
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. can — a tin
  24. foot — the bottom

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