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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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. toast — bread
  4. current — happening now
  5. bear — the animal
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. season — of the year
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. net — after costs
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. wake — a trail
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. current — of water
  20. net — in sport
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. season — in sport
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. current — electric

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