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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. current — of water
  3. degree — temperature
  4. mine — for digging
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. degree — from a university
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. degree — an amount
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. current — happening now
  13. charge — in control
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. charge — electricity
  16. pop — soda
  17. pop — to visit
  18. charge — a price
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. current — electric
  23. plane — a tool
  24. pop — music

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