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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 124 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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. current — electric
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. pit — a hole
  11. rush — hurry
  12. stem — to come from
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. current — happening now
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. current — of water
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. pit — in a race
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. arm — a part of something

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