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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. toast — bread
  6. current — happening now
  7. date — the fruit
  8. club — for dancing
  9. bank — for money
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. club — for golf
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bank — of a river
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. board — to get on
  19. bank — for money
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. current — of water
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. board — a committee
  24. club — a group

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