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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
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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: cue · bass · spell · can · cabinet · current · jam · last

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bass — low music
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. spell — magic
  8. cue — for pool
  9. last — finally
  10. current — electric
  11. cue — a signal
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. spell — a short time
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. current — of water
  17. last — final
  18. current — happening now
  19. cue — a hint
  20. spell — letters
  21. last — to go on
  22. can — a tin
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. bass — the instrument

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