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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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. club — a group
  3. current — electric
  4. ball — a dance
  5. row — a line
  6. club — for dancing
  7. ball — a great time
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. can — a tin
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. can — a tin
  13. bulb — for light
  14. pass — a permit
  15. current — happening now
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. club — for golf
  19. bulb — for light
  20. can — to be able to
  21. row — to paddle
  22. current — of water
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. snap — to click

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