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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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. current — of water
  4. mark — a trace
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. current — electric
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. rock — a stone
  9. mark — a grade
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. rock — music
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. current — happening now
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. deal — to handle
  19. stand — to bear
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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