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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 120 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 · current · squash · mug · rush · face · track · craft

  1. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. craft — boats
  4. craft — a skill
  5. mug — a cup
  6. current — happening now
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. squash — the sport
  9. rush — hurry
  10. track — a song
  11. current — electric
  12. face — part of the head
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. current — of water
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. face — to point toward
  20. mug — to rob
  21. track — to keep track
  22. mug — a face
  23. squash — to crush
  24. track — a path

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