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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. pass — a permit
  4. saw — the tool
  5. current — electric
  6. degree — an amount
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. degree — from a university
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. current — of water
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. degree — temperature
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. stand — to bear
  23. can — a tin
  24. arm — a part of something

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