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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. bear — the animal
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. ball — a dance
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. can — a tin
  13. saw — the tool
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. current — electric
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bark — to shout
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. foot — a measure

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