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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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. bound — tied together
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. bound — obliged
  5. tube — the underground
  6. pitch — completely
  7. mug — a face
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. mug — a cup
  10. current — happening now
  11. present — the time now
  12. current — of water
  13. present — a gift
  14. bound — certain
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. mug — to rob
  20. lean — to bend
  21. current — electric
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. lean — thin
  24. present — there

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