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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. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. current — of water
  3. lean — thin
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. ground — the earth
  7. bulb — for light
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bulb — for light
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. ground — crushed
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. capital — a city
  16. rash — hasty
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. current — electric
  19. current — happening now
  20. ground — a position
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. lean — to bend
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. rash — a series

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