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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: current · rush · date · can · wake · key · toast · bear

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. bear — the animal
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. current — electric
  8. can — a tin
  9. rush — hurry
  10. date — the fruit
  11. can — to be able to
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bear — the animal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. can — a tin
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. current — happening now
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. toast — bread
  22. current — of water
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. key — in music

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