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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: fine · mine · tube · pitcher · current · jam · dip · hide

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. tube — a container
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. dip — to sink
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. fine — high quality
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. current — electric
  10. mine — for digging
  11. tube — the underground
  12. current — happening now
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. current — of water
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fine — all right
  24. hide — to keep secret

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