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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. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. stem — to come from
  3. can — to be able to
  4. current — electric
  5. spell — letters
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. charge — electricity
  8. pound — to hit hard
  9. can — a tin
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. charge — a price
  12. lie — to recline
  13. current — of water
  14. charge — in control
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. spell — magic
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. can — a tin
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. pound — a weight
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. current — happening now
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. pound — for dogs

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