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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. current — happening now
  4. club — a group
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. staff — employees
  7. pass — a permit
  8. can — a tin
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. current — electric
  11. can — a tin
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. row — a line
  17. row — to paddle
  18. can — to be able to
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — a stick
  22. current — of water
  23. club — for dancing
  24. club — for golf

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