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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. current — electric
  3. kick — in football
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. tube — a container
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. staff — employees
  10. branch — a division
  11. deal — to handle
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. staff — a stick
  14. foot — a measure
  15. kick — a thrill
  16. tube — the underground
  17. content — the amount
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. current — happening now
  22. staff — employees
  23. branch — of a bank
  24. content — happy

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