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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. track — a path
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. current — happening now
  9. present — the time now
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. current — of water
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. track — a song
  15. present — there
  16. staff — employees
  17. staff — employees
  18. present — a gift
  19. staff — a stick
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. current — electric
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. track — to keep track

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