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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. wind — moving air
  3. current — of water
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mark — a trace
  8. current — electric
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. current — happening now
  11. bulb — for light
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. wind — moving air
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. wind — to turn a key
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. bulb — for light
  20. foot — a measure
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. band — a ring
  23. band — a music group
  24. mark — a grade

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