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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. game — a match
  3. rest — what's left
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. current — of water
  6. rest — a break
  7. can — a tin
  8. rest — what's left
  9. field — a subject
  10. current — happening now
  11. mark — a grade
  12. field — for sport
  13. mark — a trace
  14. can — to be able to
  15. can — a tin
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. lean — to bend
  18. firm — steady
  19. lean — thin
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. field — farmland
  22. firm — a company
  23. firm — decided
  24. game — wild animals

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