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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. face — to confront
  3. sharp — clever
  4. firm — decided
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. firm — steady
  8. face — to point toward
  9. rash — a series
  10. rush — hurry
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. face — part of the head
  14. firm — a company
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. current — of water
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. current — happening now
  23. rash — hasty
  24. sharp — exactly

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