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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 116 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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. mate — to breed
  3. plane — a tool
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. saw — the tool
  6. mark — a trace
  7. current — happening now
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. bulb — for light
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. mate — a friend
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. mark — a grade
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. bulb — for light
  18. saw — the tool
  19. mate — a partner
  20. rush — hurry
  21. current — electric
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. game — wild animals
  24. game — a match

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