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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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. rash — a series
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bear — the animal
  6. scale — size or range
  7. rest — a break
  8. bear — the animal
  9. current — happening now
  10. suit — in cards
  11. suit — to fit
  12. last — to go on
  13. roll — a cake
  14. last — finally
  15. rest — what's left
  16. roll — a list
  17. rash — hasty
  18. scale — in music
  19. rest — what's left
  20. current — electric
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. last — final
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. current — of water

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