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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. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. current — happening now
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. pit — in a race
  5. current — of water
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. field — farmland
  9. rock — music
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. ball — a great time
  12. bank — of a river
  13. rash — a series
  14. field — for sport
  15. rash — hasty
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. rock — a stone
  18. pit — a hole
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. current — electric
  21. bank — for money
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. field — a subject
  24. bank — for money

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