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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 120 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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. spring — the season
  4. current — of water
  5. spring — a coil
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. wind — moving air
  12. can — a tin
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. wind — moving air
  15. current — electric
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. stand — to bear
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. can — a tin
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. current — happening now
  24. can — to be able to

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