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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 120 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: wake · current · pitcher · bass · trunk · bear · leaves · fan

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. bear — the animal
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. wake — a trail
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. bass — low music
  15. current — of water
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. wake — to stop sleeping
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bass — the fish
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. current — electric
  24. bear — to put up with

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