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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 120 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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. bound — certain
  6. current — of water
  7. current — happening now
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. face — to point toward
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. capital — a city
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. bound — obliged
  15. mark — a grade
  16. can — a tin
  17. current — electric
  18. mark — a trace
  19. bound — tied together
  20. face — part of the head
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. face — to confront
  24. ruler — for measuring

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