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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. mug — a face
  3. key — for a lock
  4. key — the most important part
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. board — a committee
  8. key — in music
  9. current — happening now
  10. fine — high quality
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. board — to get on
  13. fine — all right
  14. mug — a cup
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. current — of water
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mark — a grade
  19. lean — to bend
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. mug — to rob
  22. current — electric
  23. mark — a trace
  24. lean — thin

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