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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. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. current — happening now
  3. mug — to rob
  4. shower — rain
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — to be able to
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. cue — for pool
  10. mug — a face
  11. row — a line
  12. can — a tin
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. shower — to wash
  16. current — electric
  17. current — of water
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. mug — a cup
  21. row — to paddle
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. cue — a signal
  24. cue — a hint

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