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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. row — to paddle
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. current — happening now
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. fork — in a road
  7. season — in sport
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. fork — to eat with
  11. season — of the year
  12. shower — to wash
  13. current — of water
  14. club — a group
  15. current — electric
  16. saw — the tool
  17. club — for dancing
  18. shower — rain
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. club — for golf
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. squash — the sport
  23. squash — to crush
  24. row — a line

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