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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 116 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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. current — happening now
  3. rest — what's left
  4. ball — a dance
  5. saw — the tool
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. object — a thing
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. bulb — for light
  10. swing — in golf
  11. current — electric
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. ball — a great time
  14. swing — music
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. current — of water
  17. bulb — for light
  18. swing — to play on
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. object — to protest
  21. plane — a tool
  22. rest — what's left
  23. object — an aim
  24. rest — a break

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