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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 old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. toast — bread
  3. bulb — for light
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. straw — a straw man
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. staff — employees
  9. current — electric
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. key — for a lock
  12. staff — employees
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. key — in music
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bulb — for light
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. key — the most important part
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — of water
  24. ruler — a monarch

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