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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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. swing — in golf
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rush — hurry
  6. bound — tied together
  7. current — happening now
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. can — a tin
  11. bound — obliged
  12. swing — music
  13. current — of water
  14. pop — to visit
  15. bound — certain
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pop — soda
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. swing — to play on
  22. can — a tin
  23. current — electric
  24. pop — music

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