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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 120 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. current — electric
  13. fine — high quality
  14. saw — the tool
  15. fine — all right
  16. board — a committee
  17. current — of water
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. saw — the tool
  22. board — to get on
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. bark — to shout

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