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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · pass · fine · mouse · jam · craft · row · straw

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. current — happening now
  4. row — to paddle
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. current — electric
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. fine — all right
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. row — a line
  16. current — of water
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. fine — high quality
  19. craft — boats
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. pass — a permit
  23. craft — a skill
  24. straw — a straw man

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