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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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. current — happening now
  3. foot — a measure
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. pit — in a race
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. net — for catching
  9. net — in sport
  10. current — of water
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. net — after costs
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. band — a music group
  15. band — a ring
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. pit — a hole
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. branch — a division
  22. current — electric
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. band — a rubber band

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