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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. present — there
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. current — happening now
  6. current — electric
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. pop — soda
  9. bear — the animal
  10. pop — music
  11. pop — to visit
  12. wake — a trail
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. spell — magic
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bear — the animal
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. spell — a short time
  20. pass — a permit
  21. spell — letters
  22. current — of water
  23. present — a gift
  24. jam — a tight spot

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