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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 120 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: foot · row · band · last · current · stand · tube · rush

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. tube — a container
  5. row — to paddle
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. current — of water
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. last — finally
  10. band — a ring
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. tube — the underground
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. stand — to bear
  16. current — electric
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. last — final
  19. current — happening now
  20. last — to go on
  21. row — a line
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. band — a music group
  24. rush — hurry

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