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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. You don't need to ________________ round.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. pop — soda
  4. suit — in cards
  5. saw — the tool
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. bank — of a river
  8. suit — to fit
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. race — the arms race
  11. bear — the animal
  12. pop — to visit
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bank — for money
  16. bear — the animal
  17. current — electric
  18. current — happening now
  19. bank — for money
  20. pop — music
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. race — humankind
  23. race — a contest
  24. suit — clothes

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