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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.

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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: current · can · cabinet · cue · bay · band · bank · wave

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. cue — for pool
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. band — a ring
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. current — of water
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. cue — a signal
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. can — to be able to
  18. current — happening now
  19. can — a tin
  20. bank — for money
  21. can — a tin
  22. current — electric
  23. band — a music group
  24. bank — of a river

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