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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 120 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. firm — decided
  3. pit — in a race
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. firm — steady
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. current — of water
  10. deal — to handle
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. firm — a company
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. current — electric
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. rush — hurry
  21. plane — a tool
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  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