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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · plane · saw · date · track · bear · toast · hide

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. date — the fruit
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. plane — a tool
  5. saw — the tool
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. current — electric
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. track — a path
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. track — a song
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. current — of water
  17. saw — the tool
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bear — the animal
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. toast — bread

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