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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: racket · fan · current · jam · can · mate · stand · root

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. mate — a partner
  4. root — the cause
  5. can — a tin
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — electric
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. current — of water
  10. root — of a word
  11. can — to be able to
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. stand — to bear
  14. mate — a friend
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. root — of a plant
  20. mate — to breed
  21. can — a tin
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. fan — a supporter

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