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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — the tool
  3. prune — to trim
  4. current — electric
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. cue — for pool
  8. rash — hasty
  9. mug — a face
  10. rash — a series
  11. mug — a cup
  12. current — of water
  13. mug — to rob
  14. lean — thin
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. lean — to bend
  17. can — a tin
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. can — a tin
  20. current — happening now
  21. cue — a hint
  22. prune — to trim
  23. cue — a signal
  24. can — to be able to

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