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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 116 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: current · fall · ball · vault · can · rush · swing · staff

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. fall — to drop
  4. ball — a dance
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. fall — the season
  7. can — to be able to
  8. fall — to drop
  9. can — a tin
  10. swing — music
  11. swing — to play on
  12. vault — a safe
  13. staff — a stick
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. swing — in golf
  17. ball — a great time
  18. current — electric
  19. staff — employees
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. current — of water
  22. staff — employees
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. rush — hurry

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