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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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. current — electric
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. ground — the earth
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. ground — crushed
  13. bass — the fish
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. suit — in cards
  16. current — of water
  17. bass — low music
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. current — happening now
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. suit — to fit
  24. ground — a position

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