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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 120 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. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. foot — a measure
  3. current — electric
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mug — a face
  6. ball — a dance
  7. current — happening now
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. chest — of your body
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. ball — a great time
  13. chest — of your body
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. field — a subject
  18. field — farmland
  19. field — for sport
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. current — of water

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