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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cue — a signal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. cap — a hat
  8. bound — certain
  9. cap — of ice
  10. bound — obliged
  11. cap — a lid
  12. bear — the animal
  13. current — happening now
  14. prune — to trim
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. bass — the fish
  17. cue — for pool
  18. current — electric
  19. prune — to trim
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. bound — tied together
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. bass — low music

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