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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. row — to paddle
  3. mug — a cup
  4. chip — for betting
  5. current — happening now
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. current — of water
  8. net — in sport
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. mark — a trace
  11. last — finally
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mug — to rob
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. net — for catching
  17. current — electric
  18. last — to go on
  19. net — after costs
  20. chip — to eat
  21. last — final
  22. mark — a grade
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. row — a line

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