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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. bear — the animal
  4. pop — soda
  5. firm — a company
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. sharp — clever
  8. current — electric
  9. charge — a price
  10. current — happening now
  11. pop — music
  12. band — a music group
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. pop — to visit
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. charge — in control
  17. firm — decided
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. current — of water
  20. band — a ring
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. charge — electricity
  23. firm — steady
  24. snap — to click

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