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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: cabinet · mark · current · jam · season · stick · tube · net

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. tube — a container
  7. season — in sport
  8. mark — a trace
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. mark — a grade
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. current — electric
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. net — after costs
  17. current — happening now
  18. season — of the year
  19. tube — the underground
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. net — in sport
  24. net — for catching

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