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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: rock · cabinet · current · trunk · foot · racket · content · mug

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. current — happening now
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. rock — music
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. content — happy
  11. mug — a cup
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. content — the amount
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. current — electric
  19. mug — to rob
  20. current — of water
  21. foot — a measure
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mug — a face

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