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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. net — for catching
  6. current — of water
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. net — after costs
  9. spell — letters
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mug — a face
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — clothes
  15. current — electric
  16. branch — a division
  17. spell — magic
  18. mug — to rob
  19. net — in sport
  20. spell — a short time
  21. date — the fruit
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. mug — a cup
  24. ruler — a monarch

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