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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: season · current · cue · dip · lean · track · deal · staff

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. dip — to sink
  3. staff — a stick
  4. track — to keep track
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — of water
  7. lean — to bend
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. track — a path
  10. cue — a signal
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. current — electric
  14. track — a song
  15. season — of the year
  16. cue — for pool
  17. staff — employees
  18. cue — a hint
  19. deal — to handle
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. staff — employees
  22. lean — thin
  23. season — in sport
  24. lean — to rest against

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