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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. can — a tin
  3. pop — music
  4. scale — in music
  5. root — the cause
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. current — of water
  8. lie — to recline
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. pop — to visit
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. can — a tin
  13. root — of a plant
  14. current — electric
  15. pop — soda
  16. scale — size or range
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. root — of a word
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. can — to be able to
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. coach — a trainer

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