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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. row — to paddle
  3. bulb — for light
  4. net — for catching
  5. clip — to cut
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. current — of water
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. row — a line
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. net — after costs
  14. current — happening now
  15. clip — a video
  16. net — in sport
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bulb — for light
  20. can — a tin
  21. current — electric
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. clip — for paper

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