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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. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. mug — a face
  3. mug — to rob
  4. march — the month
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. current — happening now
  10. deal — to handle
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bark — of a tree
  13. current — of water
  14. rush — hurry
  15. board — a committee
  16. scale — size or range
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. march — music
  19. current — electric
  20. bark — to shout
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. board — to get on
  24. march — the month

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