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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. current — electric
  3. track — a path
  4. plane — a tool
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. deal — to handle
  8. current — of water
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. mark — a grade
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. track — a song
  14. current — happening now
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. perch — the fish
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. track — to keep track
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rush — hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. perch — for a bird

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