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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: can · pop · toast · court · cabinet · ruler · ground · current

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. current — happening now
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. current — of water
  6. can — a tin
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. toast — bread
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. court — of a king
  11. ground — crushed
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. can — to be able to
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. pop — music
  17. pop — soda
  18. current — electric
  19. ground — a position
  20. can — a tin
  21. court — of law
  22. court — for sport
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. ground — the earth

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