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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. current — happening now
  3. face — part of the head
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. pit — a hole
  7. dip — to sink
  8. face — to confront
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. foot — a measure
  11. current — of water
  12. face — to point toward
  13. can — to be able to
  14. charge — a price
  15. current — electric
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. charge — electricity
  18. can — a tin
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. pit — in a race
  23. charge — in control
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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