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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. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. wind — to turn a key
  2. fine — all right
  3. mug — to rob
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. current — electric
  6. fine — high quality
  7. mark — a trace
  8. current — happening now
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. saw — the tool
  12. mark — a grade
  13. current — of water
  14. mug — a cup
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. wind — moving air
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. mug — a face
  20. bulb — for light
  21. saw — the tool
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. bulb — for light
  24. wind — moving air

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