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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 black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. pop — soda
  3. rest — a break
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. pop — music
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. pop — to visit
  11. bear — the animal
  12. rest — what's left
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. current — of water
  20. lie — to recline
  21. current — happening now
  22. current — electric
  23. rest — what's left
  24. lie — an untruth

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