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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: mate · current · court · jam · plane · bass · bore · can

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. current — electric
  6. court — of a king
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. court — for sport
  11. current — of water
  12. bass — the fish
  13. current — happening now
  14. bass — low music
  15. court — of law
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. mate — to breed
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. plane — a tool
  22. mate — a friend
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bore — to tire

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