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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 120 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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. can — a tin
  3. mate — a partner
  4. current — happening now
  5. dip — to sink
  6. suit — clothes
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. suit — to fit
  10. degree — from a university
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. can — to be able to
  13. mate — to breed
  14. current — electric
  15. spell — letters
  16. degree — temperature
  17. current — of water
  18. spell — a short time
  19. suit — in cards
  20. degree — an amount
  21. spell — magic
  22. mate — a friend
  23. can — a tin
  24. dip — to dunk

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