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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. current — of water
  3. bear — the animal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. track — to keep track
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. board — to get on
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. game — wild animals
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. current — happening now
  13. game — a match
  14. track — a song
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. track — a path
  23. current — electric
  24. board — a committee

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