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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. current — happening now
  3. tube — a container
  4. tube — the underground
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. sharp — clever
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. current — of water
  13. lie — to recline
  14. current — electric
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. ball — a dance

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