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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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. bulb — for light
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. object — a thing
  8. board — to get on
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. object — to protest
  11. fine — all right
  12. board — a committee
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. current — happening now
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. current — electric
  21. current — of water
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. mine — for digging
  24. fine — high quality

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