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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. fine — high quality
  4. current — of water
  5. pop — music
  6. mate — a partner
  7. mark — a grade
  8. branch — a division
  9. toast — bread
  10. can — a tin
  11. mate — to breed
  12. current — happening now
  13. pop — soda
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. can — a tin
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. current — electric
  20. pop — to visit
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. fine — all right
  23. mark — a trace
  24. can — to be able to

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