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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The tickets are free of ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — in golf
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. current — of water
  5. current — happening now
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. swing — to play on
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. charge — a price
  13. charge — electricity
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — a measure
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. wake — a trail
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. charge — in control
  22. current — electric
  23. swing — music
  24. wake — before a funeral

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