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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: rush · bore · arm · chip · stick · current · ball · can

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. ball — a dance
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. current — of water
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. chip — for betting
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. ball — a great time
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. current — electric
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. can — a tin
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bore — to drill
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bore — to tire
  23. chip — to eat
  24. can — a tin

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