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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. plane — a tool
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. staff — a stick
  6. current — of water
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. staff — employees
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. staff — employees
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. track — to keep track
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. track — a song
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. current — happening now
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. track — a path

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