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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. wound — an injury
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. suit — to fit
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. can — to be able to
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. can — a tin
  13. scale — size or range
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. scale — in music
  16. suit — clothes
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. wound — an injury
  21. current — electric
  22. current — of water
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. suit — in cards

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