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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. bark — to shout
  3. charge — in control
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. tube — a container
  6. charge — electricity
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. current — of water
  10. tube — the underground
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. mine — for digging
  13. charge — a price
  14. mark — a grade
  15. current — electric
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. mark — a trace
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. current — happening now
  24. foot — 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