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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 116 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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. current — of water
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. current — electric
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. saw — the tool
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. cue — a signal
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. cue — a hint
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. track — to keep track
  14. fine — all right
  15. current — happening now
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — hurry
  18. track — a song
  19. track — a path
  20. cue — for pool
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. mine — for digging
  24. saw — the tool

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