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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. current — of water
  3. bore — to drill
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. current — happening now
  6. key — the most important part
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. bore — to tire
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — for a lock
  11. key — in music
  12. mark — a grade
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. lean — thin
  16. bulb — for light
  17. lean — to bend
  18. current — electric
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. mark — a trace
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. pitch — completely

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