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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. fine — high quality
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. current — happening now
  5. fine — all right
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. current — electric
  8. row — to paddle
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. face — part of the head
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. face — to confront
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. row — a line
  19. face — to point toward
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. current — of water
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. mark — a trace

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