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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 116 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. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. current — electric
  3. saw — the tool
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. net — in sport
  6. saw — the tool
  7. scale — size or range
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. scale — in music
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. lie — to recline
  13. current — happening now
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. net — after costs
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. suit — clothes
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. game — wild animals
  21. suit — to fit
  22. current — of water
  23. suit — in cards
  24. net — for catching

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