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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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. current — of water
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. can — to be able to
  10. can — a tin
  11. current — happening now
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. can — a tin
  14. pound — for dogs
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. pound — a weight
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. current — electric

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