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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 116 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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. bulb — for light
  3. present — a gift
  4. key — in music
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. firm — a company
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. current — of water
  9. key — for a lock
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. current — happening now
  12. bulb — for light
  13. present — the time now
  14. wound — an injury
  15. firm — decided
  16. present — there
  17. key — the most important part
  18. firm — steady
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. current — electric
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. fan — a supporter

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