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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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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: current · jam · swing · track · rule · cue · bowl · pitcher

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. cue — for pool
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. current — happening now
  6. rule — government
  7. cue — a hint
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. swing — music
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. track — to keep track
  14. cue — a signal
  15. swing — to play on
  16. rule — a law
  17. track — a path
  18. current — of water
  19. current — electric
  20. swing — in golf
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. track — a song
  24. bowl — a dish

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