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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. chest — a box
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. current — electric
  8. current — of water
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. chest — of your body
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. toast — bread
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ground — a position
  16. ground — crushed
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. chest — of your body
  20. current — happening now
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pass — a permit
  23. ground — the earth
  24. nail — for a hammer

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