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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. pop — music
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. last — to go on
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. pop — to visit
  10. current — of water
  11. current — electric
  12. pop — soda
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. rush — hurry
  17. current — happening now
  18. kid — child
  19. kid — to tease
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. last — finally
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. last — final
  24. toast — bread

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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