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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 120 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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. current — of water
  4. pit — in a race
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. scale — in music
  7. scale — size or range
  8. fine — all right
  9. march — music
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. pit — a hole
  14. march — the month
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. fine — high quality
  20. current — happening now
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. current — electric
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. scale — for weighing

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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