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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 116 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
468
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: content · present · ball · current · rock · suit · bank · rest

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. present — there
  3. current — of water
  4. present — a gift
  5. ball — a great time
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. rock — music
  9. bank — for money
  10. rest — what's left
  11. bank — of a river
  12. rest — a break
  13. current — electric
  14. content — the amount
  15. bank — for money
  16. rest — what's left
  17. present — the time now
  18. ball — a dance
  19. suit — in cards
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. content — happy
  22. rock — a stone
  23. current — happening now
  24. suit — clothes

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