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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. There's no middle ________________.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. current — happening now
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. fine — high quality
  6. toast — bread
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. ground — a position
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. ground — the earth
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. current — of water
  15. rest — what's left
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. fine — all right
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. rest — a break
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. ground — crushed
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. fine — a penalty

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