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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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. mark — a trace
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. firm — decided
  5. current — of water
  6. firm — a company
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. current — happening now
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. current — electric
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. mark — a grade
  14. board — to get on
  15. content — happy
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. mine — for digging
  19. board — a committee
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. firm — steady
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. content — the amount

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