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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: fine · current · rock · firm · bass · present · tube · foot

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. bass — low music
  3. foot — a measure
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bass — the fish
  6. present — there
  7. tube — the underground
  8. present — the time now
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. present — a gift
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. firm — steady
  15. tube — a container
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. fine — all right
  18. rock — a stone
  19. rock — music
  20. current — of water
  21. firm — a company
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. fine — high quality
  24. firm — decided

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