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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 works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. pop — to visit
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. board — to get on
  6. pop — soda
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. current — electric
  14. track — a path
  15. current — happening now
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. pop — music
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. track — a song
  20. board — a committee
  21. track — to keep track
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. current — of water
  24. racket — a loud noise

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