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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. pitch — completely
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. board — a committee
  9. chip — to eat
  10. chip — for betting
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a trace
  14. sharp — clever
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. current — happening now
  18. board — to get on
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. mark — a grade
  23. current — electric
  24. ruler — for measuring

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