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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. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. net — in sport
  4. can — a tin
  5. bound — tied together
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. bound — certain
  9. current — happening now
  10. can — a tin
  11. bound — obliged
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. net — after costs
  14. net — for catching
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pit — in a race
  18. kick — in football
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. current — of water
  22. current — electric
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. pit — a hole

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