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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 116 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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. current — electric
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. current — of water
  9. current — happening now
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. fork — in a road
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. pass — a permit
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. bulb — for light
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fine — all right
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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