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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. craft — boats
  3. staff — a stick
  4. mug — a face
  5. staff — employees
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. mug — to rob
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. mark — a trace
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. craft — a skill
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. staff — employees
  19. plane — a tool
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. mark — a grade
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. current — electric

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