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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The ball is in your ________________.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. court — of a king
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. court — of law
  5. current — happening now
  6. mug — a cup
  7. mate — a partner
  8. current — electric
  9. mate — to breed
  10. kick — in football
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. rash — a series
  15. track — a song
  16. mug — to rob
  17. court — for sport
  18. track — a path
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. track — to keep track
  21. mate — a friend
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. rash — hasty
  24. mug — a face

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