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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: track · rock · racket · kid · can · content · current · hide

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. track — to keep track
  3. content — the amount
  4. current — electric
  5. can — a tin
  6. content — happy
  7. kid — child
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. rock — a stone
  10. can — to be able to
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. kid — to tease
  13. current — happening now
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. can — a tin
  16. track — a song
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. track — a path
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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