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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. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — to keep track
  2. current — of water
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. dip — to sink
  5. mug — a face
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. current — happening now
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. mug — to rob
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. current — electric
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. mug — a cup
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. track — a song
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. track — a path
  24. can — a tin

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