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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  15. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. face — part of the head
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bat — in an idiom
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bat — the animal
  15. bat — for baseball
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. toast — bread
  18. face — to point toward
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. face — to confront
  21. current — electric
  22. current — happening now
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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