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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bass — low music
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. suit — to fit
  6. current — happening now
  7. court — of law
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. current — electric
  10. court — of a king
  11. can — a tin
  12. bass — the fish
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. court — for sport
  15. can — to be able to
  16. mate — a partner
  17. wound — an injury
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. current — of water
  21. suit — in cards
  22. can — a tin
  23. mate — a friend
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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