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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. ground — the earth
  3. ground — crushed
  4. current — of water
  5. chest — of your body
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. current — electric
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. chest — of your body
  14. toast — bread
  15. chest — a box
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. ground — a position
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rush — hurry
  20. current — happening now
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. toast — the most admired

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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