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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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. march — music
  4. bear — the animal
  5. vault — a safe
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. can — a tin
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. can — to be able to
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. current — happening now
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. current — electric
  16. bear — the animal
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. current — of water
  19. rush — hurry
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. march — the month
  22. can — a tin
  23. march — the month
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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