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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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. wound — an injury
  3. row — a line
  4. bound — tied together
  5. row — to paddle
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — of water
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. rock — music
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. rock — a stone
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. current — electric
  16. ball — a great time
  17. current — happening now
  18. bound — obliged
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. ball — a dance
  23. bound — certain
  24. wound — an injury

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