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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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. mug — to rob
  3. land — ground
  4. current — electric
  5. current — of water
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. current — happening now
  9. land — a country
  10. land — to come down
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rock — a stone
  15. board — to get on
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mug — a cup
  19. rock — music
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. mug — a face

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