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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 120 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. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. current — of water
  3. fine — all right
  4. squash — the sport
  5. squash — to crush
  6. mate — to breed
  7. current — electric
  8. bound — tied together
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. can — a tin
  11. bound — certain
  12. bound — obliged
  13. can — a tin
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — a grade
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. can — to be able to
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. fine — high quality
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. mate — a partner
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. mate — a friend
  24. current — happening now

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