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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. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. rule — a law
  3. bass — low music
  4. current — electric
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. cap — a lid
  7. current — happening now
  8. prune — to trim
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. mug — a cup
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bass — the fish
  14. mug — to rob
  15. prune — to trim
  16. cap — of ice
  17. toast — bread
  18. mug — a face
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. cap — a hat
  23. rule — government
  24. current — of water

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