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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. plane — a tool
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. deal — to handle
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. row — a line
  11. can — a tin
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. can — to be able to
  15. row — to paddle
  16. chair — a professorship
  17. can — a tin
  18. current — electric
  19. chair — a leader
  20. current — happening now
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. row — a quarrel

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