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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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. pit — a hole
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. current — happening now
  6. can — a tin
  7. season — in sport
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. current — electric
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. roll — a list
  12. staff — a stick
  13. staff — employees
  14. season — of the year
  15. plane — a tool
  16. branch — a division
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. can — a tin
  19. roll — a cake
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. can — to be able to
  22. pit — in a race
  23. staff — employees
  24. plane — in geometry

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