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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. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. current — of water
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. prune — to trim
  9. game — wild animals
  10. drill — the tool
  11. drill — army training
  12. firm — a company
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. prune — to trim
  16. current — happening now
  17. drill — a practice
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. game — a kind of play
  20. saw — the tool
  21. current — electric
  22. game — a match
  23. firm — steady
  24. prune — the fruit

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