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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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. foot — a measure
  4. current — of water
  5. saw — the tool
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. current — happening now
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. row — to paddle
  11. saw — the tool
  12. row — a line
  13. wound — an injury
  14. court — of law
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. pass — a permit
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. court — of a king
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. wound — an injury
  23. court — for sport
  24. current — electric

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