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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. mate — a partner
  4. current — of water
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. current — electric
  11. mark — a trace
  12. foot — a measure
  13. current — happening now
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bulb — for light
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. bulb — for light
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — the tool
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. mate — to breed
  23. mate — a friend
  24. plane — a tool

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