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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 124 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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. current — electric
  3. rock — music
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. suit — in cards
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. file — a line of people
  9. suit — to fit
  10. rock — a stone
  11. current — of water
  12. lean — thin
  13. board — to get on
  14. file — a tool
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. rash — a series
  17. current — happening now
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. lean — to bend
  20. suit — clothes
  21. file — a document
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. board — a committee

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