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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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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. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. track — a path
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. track — to keep track
  5. row — to paddle
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. spell — a short time
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. row — a line
  13. current — electric
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. current — of water
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. track — a song
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. spell — letters
  22. current — happening now
  23. spell — magic
  24. safe — a strongbox

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