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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. rash — a series
  3. current — of water
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. staff — employees
  6. pit — in a race
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. pop — to visit
  9. dip — to sink
  10. pop — soda
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. current — happening now
  13. current — electric
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. staff — employees
  16. toast — bread
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. pop — music
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. rash — hasty
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. staff — a stick
  24. pit — a hole

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