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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 116 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. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. current — happening now
  4. scale — in music
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — for catching
  9. current — of water
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. current — electric
  12. scale — size or range
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wound — an injury
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. pitch — completely
  17. spell — magic
  18. net — after costs
  19. spell — letters
  20. spell — a short time
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. wound — an injury
  24. wake — a trail

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