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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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. bulb — for light
  4. rock — music
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. last — to go on
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. last — final
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. last — finally
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. current — electric
  16. current — of water
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. rock — a stone
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — happening now
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. safe — out of danger

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