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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. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. cue — for pool
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rush — hurry
  5. current — electric
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. current — of water
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bear — the animal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. cue — a hint
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. current — happening now
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. cue — a signal
  21. sharp — clever
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. lean — to bend
  24. lean — thin

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