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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: rash · board · pit · lie · craft · current · pop · mouse

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. current — happening now
  3. current — of water
  4. craft — a skill
  5. rash — hasty
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pit — in a race
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rash — a series
  11. pit — a hole
  12. board — a committee
  13. pop — to visit
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. current — electric
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. pop — music
  18. lie — to recline
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. pop — soda
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. craft — boats
  23. board — to get on
  24. craft — a handicraft

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