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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: pitcher · fan · trunk · current · face · cabinet · stand · track

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. face — to point toward
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. current — electric
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. track — a song
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. track — a path
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. stand — to bear
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. track — to keep track
  23. face — part of the head
  24. face — to confront

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