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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  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. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mark — a grade
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. spell — letters
  6. mark — a trace
  7. root — the cause
  8. saw — the tool
  9. current — electric
  10. root — of a plant
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. board — to get on
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. board — a committee
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. spell — a short time
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. perch — the fish
  20. root — of a word
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. spell — magic
  23. current — happening now
  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