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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. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. straw — dry grass
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. lean — thin
  7. mark — a trace
  8. rock — a stone
  9. current — of water
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lean — to bend
  12. mark — a grade
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. snap — to click
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. current — electric
  17. track — a path
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rock — music
  21. current — happening now
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. track — to keep track
  24. straw — to clutch at straws

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