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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. current — electric
  3. object — a thing
  4. cap — a hat
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. object — to protest
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — of water
  11. degree — an amount
  12. cue — for pool
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. pass — a permit
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. degree — temperature
  17. cap — of ice
  18. date — the fruit
  19. cue — a hint
  20. foot — a measure
  21. object — an aim
  22. cue — a signal
  23. degree — from a university
  24. cap — a lid

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