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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. When are we going to ________________?
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. land — to come down
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. land — ground
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. current — of water
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pass — a permit
  10. perch — the fish
  11. deal — to handle
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. land — a country
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. current — electric
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. toast — bread
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. current — happening now
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. deal — a big deal

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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