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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 116 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: lie · track · cell · present · rash · current · pop · fine

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. present — there
  3. rash — a series
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. rash — hasty
  6. fine — all right
  7. current — happening now
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. track — a path
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. lie — to recline
  12. cell — in biology
  13. present — a gift
  14. current — electric
  15. track — a song
  16. pop — to visit
  17. current — of water
  18. cell — a phone
  19. pop — music
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. fine — high quality
  22. track — to keep track
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. pop — soda

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