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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. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. firm — decided
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. current — electric
  8. suit — clothes
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. suit — to fit
  12. bat — the animal
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. suit — in cards
  15. current — of water
  16. current — happening now
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. firm — a company
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. firm — steady
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. wound — an injury

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