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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: track · current · nail · racket · ground · rash · bore · suit

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rash — hasty
  3. track — a song
  4. bore — to tire
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. suit — in cards
  10. current — of water
  11. ground — a position
  12. rash — a series
  13. track — to keep track
  14. current — happening now
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. current — electric
  18. ground — crushed
  19. ground — the earth
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. suit — to fit
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. track — a path
  24. racket — for tennis

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