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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. current — of water
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. current — electric
  5. swing — in golf
  6. wind — to turn a key
  7. swing — to play on
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. can — a tin
  14. swing — music
  15. current — happening now
  16. wind — moving air
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. deal — to handle
  20. saw — the tool
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. wind — moving air
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. deal — an agreement

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