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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: nail · jam · mark · current · present · hide · pound · deal

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. current — of water
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. current — happening now
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. current — electric
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. pound — to hit hard
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. present — a gift
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mark — a trace
  18. deal — to handle
  19. mark — a grade
  20. present — there
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. pound — a weight
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. present — the time now

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