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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: can · ball · rush · mark · current · saw · stick · rock

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. current — happening now
  3. ball — a dance
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. rock — music
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mark — a grade
  8. rock — a stone
  9. can — a tin
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. current — electric
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. current — of water
  14. mark — a trace
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. rush — hurry
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. ball — a great time
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. can — to be able to
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. saw — the tool
  23. can — a tin
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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