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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. can — a tin
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. current — happening now
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. current — electric
  11. rock — music
  12. object — to protest
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. can — a tin
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. rock — a stone
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. foot — a measure
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. object — an aim
  22. object — a thing
  23. pass — a permit
  24. current — of water

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