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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. deal — to handle
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bore — to drill
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. court — of law
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. current — electric
  14. staff — employees
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. staff — employees
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bore — to tire
  20. current — happening now
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. staff — a stick
  23. court — of a king
  24. court — for sport

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