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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. can — a tin
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. current — electric
  7. firm — decided
  8. can — to be able to
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. last — finally
  11. current — happening now
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. fine — high quality
  14. firm — steady
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. last — to go on
  17. hand — help
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. last — final
  20. firm — a company
  21. current — of water
  22. fine — all right
  23. hand — in cards
  24. stem — to come from

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