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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 · toast · can · pitch · saw · kick · fine · roll

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. kick — in football
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. saw — the tool
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. roll — a list
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. current — happening now
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. can — to be able to
  12. current — of water
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. saw — the tool
  15. roll — a cake
  16. can — a tin
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. can — a tin
  19. current — electric
  20. toast — bread
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. fine — all right
  24. pitch — completely

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