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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. chip — to eat
  3. current — happening now
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. march — the month
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. lean — to bend
  8. bass — low music
  9. march — music
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. mark — a grade
  12. current — electric
  13. rock — a stone
  14. mark — a trace
  15. march — the month
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. lean — thin
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bass — the fish
  20. current — of water
  21. rock — music
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. chip — for betting

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