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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: bowl · bear · can · current · pitch · bore · jam · rush

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. bore — to tire
  3. pitch — completely
  4. rush — hurry
  5. current — happening now
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. can — a tin
  11. current — electric
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bear — the animal
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. current — of water
  17. bore — to drill
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. pitch — a sports field

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