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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 120 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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. suit — to fit
  5. firm — decided
  6. cap — a lid
  7. rest — a break
  8. cap — a hat
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. rest — what's left
  11. suit — in cards
  12. rest — what's left
  13. foot — a measure
  14. plane — a tool
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. cap — of ice
  17. current — electric
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. current — of water
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. firm — steady
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. suit — clothes
  24. firm — a company

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