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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: sharp · deal · toast · bowl · fine · content · tube · current

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. tube — the underground
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. current — electric
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. toast — bread
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — all right
  13. sharp — clever
  14. content — happy
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. current — happening now
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. tube — a container
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. content — the amount
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. current — of water
  24. fine — a penalty

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