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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 ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. wound — an injury
  3. key — the most important part
  4. swing — music
  5. mug — to rob
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. mate — a friend
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. swing — in golf
  10. mate — to breed
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. wound — an injury
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — a face
  16. swing — to play on
  17. mate — a partner
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — in music
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. current — happening now

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