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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. current — of water
  3. craft — boats
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. mug — to rob
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. pop — soda
  9. current — happening now
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. cue — a signal
  12. pop — to visit
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. cue — a hint
  17. mug — a face
  18. craft — a skill
  19. mug — a cup
  20. current — electric
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. cue — for pool
  23. mine — for digging
  24. craft — a handicraft

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