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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  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. stand — to bear
  2. current — electric
  3. bound — certain
  4. fine — all right
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. saw — the tool
  7. mate — to breed
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. bound — obliged
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. fine — high quality
  13. mate — a friend
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. shower — to wash
  16. shower — rain
  17. current — of water
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. current — happening now
  20. mate — a partner
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bound — tied together
  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