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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. scale — size or range
  4. face — part of the head
  5. mug — a cup
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. rush — hurry
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. mug — a face
  13. can — to be able to
  14. current — of water
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. can — a tin
  17. scale — in music
  18. mug — to rob
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. current — happening now
  21. face — to point toward
  22. face — to confront
  23. trunk — of a tree
  24. can — a tin

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