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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. season — in sport
  3. tube — a container
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rush — hurry
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. land — to come down
  8. fine — high quality
  9. current — electric
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — happening now
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bulb — for light
  14. tube — the underground
  15. land — a country
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. fork — a garden tool
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. fork — in a road
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. land — ground
  23. fine — all right
  24. season — of the year

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