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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. charge — in control
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. current — happening now
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. kid — to tease
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. charge — a price
  11. race — the arms race
  12. foot — a measure
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. race — a contest
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. current — of water
  17. current — electric
  18. kid — child
  19. wake — a trail
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. race — humankind
  22. charge — electricity
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. temple — a place of worship

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