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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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. pop — to visit
  4. current — happening now
  5. current — electric
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bass — the fish
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. current — of water
  12. snap — to click
  13. pop — music
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. can — a tin
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. can — a tin
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. bass — low music
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. pop — soda
  24. arm — part of the body

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