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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Did you ________________ the button?
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. file — a document
  3. current — happening now
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. sharp — clever
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. press — to push
  12. firm — steady
  13. file — a tool
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. press — newspapers
  17. firm — decided
  18. press — a publisher
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. current — electric
  21. current — of water
  22. firm — a company
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. file — a line of people

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