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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 116 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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. face — to point toward
  6. current — electric
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. face — to confront
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. face — part of the head
  13. shower — to wash
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. branch — a division
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. board — to get on
  18. shower — rain
  19. saw — the tool
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. board — a committee
  22. saw — the tool
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. branch — of a bank

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