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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bear · current · roll · cue · last · drill · content · toast

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. roll — a cake
  3. drill — a practice
  4. current — of water
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. content — happy
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. roll — a list
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. drill — army training
  11. content — the amount
  12. drill — the tool
  13. last — final
  14. cue — a signal
  15. toast — bread
  16. cue — for pool
  17. last — finally
  18. cue — a hint
  19. current — happening now
  20. bear — the animal
  21. last — to go on
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bear — the animal
  24. current — electric

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