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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. present — a gift
  3. current — of water
  4. current — happening now
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. fine — all right
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. current — electric
  15. board — a committee
  16. present — the time now
  17. can — to be able to
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. present — there
  20. can — a tin
  21. board — to get on
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. can — a tin
  24. patient — a sick person

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