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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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. fine — high quality
  3. current — happening now
  4. march — the month
  5. land — a country
  6. fine — all right
  7. march — the month
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. current — of water
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. land — ground
  16. land — to come down
  17. last — finally
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. last — to go on
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. current — electric
  23. march — music
  24. last — final

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