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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: dip · last · vault · can · cue · pop · current · pitch

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. False peace will not ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. current — electric
  5. pop — music
  6. cue — a hint
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pop — soda
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. current — of water
  11. pop — to visit
  12. dip — to sink
  13. last — to go on
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. pitch — completely
  16. can — a tin
  17. vault — a safe
  18. cue — a signal
  19. last — final
  20. cue — for pool
  21. current — happening now
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — to be able to

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