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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. cue — a hint
  5. pound — to hit hard
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. drill — army training
  10. current — electric
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. sharp — clever
  13. pound — a weight
  14. drill — the tool
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bear — the animal
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. cue — a signal
  20. bear — the animal
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. pound — for dogs

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