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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. object — an aim
  3. object — to protest
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. object — a thing
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. present — there
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. mug — a face
  13. present — a gift
  14. current — of water
  15. current — happening now
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. current — electric
  18. mug — to rob
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. branch — a division
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. sharp — clever
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. mug — a cup

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